Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 22,34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,
they gathered together, and one of them,
a scholar of the law tested him by asking,
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 
He said to him,
“You shall 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 is like it:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

To love is to have peace

1) They gathered together. Jesus is straightforward with people, but He’s also wise and discerning. Today, I encourage you to be thoughtful in the way you relate to others and practice self-love, which is very different from selfishness. Self-love is healthy: it means caring for yourself and recognizing your limits. Selfishness, however, means putting yourself first even when it hurts someone else or comes at their expense. Keep in mind that not every battle is worth fighting. Some are better left behind, even when you’re right. At the end of the day, having peace matters more than proving a point. Always seek and protect peace in your mind and heart.

2) What the law says. We’re always turning to rules and laws. We even look for people to judge what’s happening and take our side, or to join us in judging someone else. Even as a priest, people often approach me just to criticize others: “Father, so-and-so went to Mass yesterday, but they shouldn’t be receiving Communion. You need to speak with them.” I don’t get a pass either: “Father isn’t wearing his clerical attire today. What a terrible priest!” Today, Jesus teaches us that love goes beyond the law. Rules aren’t meant to label or condemn people; they’re meant to guide them. Yet when we apply them rigidly, we can stifle other people’s lives, spirituality, and even their capacity to love.

3) Love God. Loving God and recognizing that He has a personal relationship with me enables me to love others and treat them well. It gives me a deep sense of freedom, and from that freedom, I can offer the greatest act of love. That act isn’t kissing someone, hugging them, or expressing affection. The greatest act of love is forgiveness. I often say there are three kinds of forgiveness rooted in love:

The first is: “I forgive you, but please help me rebuild my trust in you. I lost it, and I care about you.”

The second is: “I forgive you, and let’s move forward because we still have to see each other every day, whether at home or at work.”

The third is: “I forgive you, but please stay out of my life and keep your distance.”

Protecting your self-love and God’s presence in your life matters too. Love is a free choice, and those who truly know how to love are the ones who are genuinely free.

Never forget that something good is on the way! 

God bless you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.