DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

FRIDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR (B)

Mystery of the day: Joyful 

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."

(Matthew 22:37-40)

Dearest friend(s) in Christ Jesus, peace and love of God be upon you. 

In the Holy Scripture our Lord gave a clear understanding of who a neighbour is. In a common parlance a neighbour is one living close to us, sitting by our side, one who is often seen around us. But in our Lord's teaching as contained in the parable of the good Samaritan (cf. Luke 10:25-37). A neighbour refers to every man we come across devoid of their relationship with us.

Our today'sreflectionbringsour mind to the very essenceof God that is "Love". Here Christ admonished us to love our God with all that is in us; as well as our neighbours as we love ourselves. This is the summary of the decalogue (the ten commandments) (cf. Exodus 20:1) He further stated that these two commandments are the foundation which the law and prophets depend.

In our society today, the language of love seems to be relegated to the background as a result of it abuses. We profess what we don't mean, we end up in words than action. 

Most often we give the cost or condition for love to be in existence, outside this determing factor there is no love. 

Far from what Christ is telling us today. The term "love" as used by Christ here is an expression of self-giving, letting go comfort for the comfort of others, forgiving hurts that marred us and giving out when we know for certain there is no return. 

Beloved in Christ, the pertinent question that beg for answer in our minds now is:

How much do we love?  Until we can answer thus: "we love beyond measure". 

There and then that we will come to terms that we have fulfilled the essence of our existence , that is to love God, to serve God and to be with Him on the last day.

Peace! Be with you.

Fada PIUSRALPH prays for you 🙌

Let us pray 🙏

Almighty and everlasting God, you are Love and source of our existence.  Grant that we pray, may this same love compel and lead us to the deeper understanding of loving one another in sincerity and truth. Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.