REFLECTION FOR
THURSDAY OF THE 9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
(2 Tim 2:8-15; Mk
12:28-34)
1.0. The Order of Love
Love is as real as it is elusive. We have
strong passion to love as well as to hate! It is generally acclaimed that the
language of love is universal, yet we never can fully understand what it says. However,
if we listen in meditation to the discussion between Jesus and the Scribe, we shall
see how love is concrete or instituted. It is the human will or desire, which
is in motion that makes love appear elusive.
Before now, the Pharisees and the
Herodians came to test Jesus with Ceasar’s coin. Afterwards the Sadducees arrived
to ridicule the resurrection. Today the Scribes, who seemed to be the more
educated, questioned Him about the greatest commandment. Jesus was pleased with
this question, and He answered immediately that the first and greatest commandment is to
love the one Lord and God with all of one’s heart, soul, mind and strength. “The
second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself.” The numbering is important if we are to grasp
the language of love. God comes first; He is the source and destination of
love. But where does human love reside?
2.0. The Soul of Love
Love is in human heart, soul, mind
and strength (flesh). Notice that love is not in words! But words can express
what is in the silence of the heart, soul, mind and strength. When all our
heart, soul, mind and strength are in touch with the love of God, then the
whole person is taken up in love with God. Thus every other commandment will
fall in place since all aspects of the person cannot go contrary to the love in
which it dwells. The love of God is a
consuming fire! (Cf. Heb 12:29). Therefore, to love my neighbour as myself
makes me a means to pass on God’s love to my neighbour. We see here how love is
structured and instituted in the human person in so far as he is suspended the love of God.
Meditating further on the discussion
between Jesus and the Scribe, we come to understand that love is devotion. It
is the rendering of all principles of
our existence first to God, and secondly, the communication of the whole self
to our neighbour. Hence, we cannot claim to love if our heart and soul are not
involved. True love must be related to peace of soul. And lovers continue to
speak to each other even in silence! That is why the greatest means of speaking
to God is through contemplative prayer. Love in the soul is the soul of love.
3.0. The Glory of Love
“When Jesus saw that he answered
wisely, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’” Love is
like the cloud of heavenly glory that envelops us and our neighbour in God. It
is a taste of God’s kingdom. That is why we must never use love to deceive or
hurt anyone since God is love. Such hurt cries to God for vengeance! Abuse of
love begins when one cuts himself off from the love of God through sin and
worldly life. But he who dwells in love dwells in God (1 Jn 4:16). If we are
true to God, our love will be true. Then we see that love is not elusive but
has a solid root in God, with authentic expression in our neighbour.
Lift up your heart to God today; let
your soul savour the sweetness of God’s presence. Love God with a human heart;
feel this energy of divine glory within you. Pause in meditation; be silent and
imagine the beauty of God’s love for you. Put aside the worries of life for a
moment, and let your heart, mind and soul fly to God’s love for you. Then step
forward and show some acts of love to those around you. For “If we have died
with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we endure with, we shall also reign
with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains
faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.”
Fr. Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic
Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Thursday June 4th, 2020.
