Inside love lies the truth that gives peace amidst odds. The irony of love is such that it does not expect us to be perfect before it searches for us. While we were still sinners, God sent his Son to die for us. Roman 5:8-10. Loving others, As Jesus says in today’s gospel has to do with loving ourselves. We must not expect others to be perfect before we love them. If we must be sincere, we must realize that we do not merit to be loved by others judged by our own inadequacies which are more glaring to us than to those outside us. The Lord says, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.”
Moreover, love becomes the greatest of all commandments in the sense that it does not count our faults. The Psalms says, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” Psalm 51:3 If we desire to be loved despite our weaknesses and hidden faults, we must be ready to love others despite their own weaknesses.
Deed inside Love: Freedom of the Lover
Nevertheless, loving others becomes smoother if they equally acknowledge their own inadequacies. It becomes heroic if we love irrespective of their stance towards us. Most importantly, the initiative to love begins with the lover. The lover has the freedom to love or not to love, otherwise it becomes an imposition. When love is forced, it loses its vitality and becomes unfulfilling, but when it is given freely, it gives joy even if it is accompanied by pains.
Jesus, the perfect lover.
However, it is a clear fact that the Lord is the one who has the greatest capacity to love true and true. He said, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13.
We are implored to emulate the Divine Saviour and imbibe the art of love that transcends every human boundary. Let’s love ourselves, so that it becomes easier to love others. May the love of Christ continue to urge us on. Amen.
Exodus 22:20-26, 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10, Matthew 22:34-40
