Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Fr Titus Mananzan SVD – Holy Spirit Novitiate, Calapan, Oriental Mindoro
Friday 3rd Week of Lent
Introduction
A man once boasted that he was nearly perfect in keeping the Ten Commandments: he never stole, never committed adultery, never missed Sunday Mass, never disrespected his parents. Yet his neighbor was dying of hunger. His “perfection” was incomplete, because the commandments are not only about avoiding sin but about actively loving.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus unites the two greatest commandments: the Shema — “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5) — and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). Together, they form the heart of Christian life.
The Inclusiveness of Love These two commandments leave no room for indifference. Love of God must overflow into love of neighbor and even love of self. As St. Paul reminds us: “Love keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5). True love is dynamic, energizing our spiritual life and directing our whole being toward God and others.
Philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said that a saint is one who “wills one thing.” For Mother Teresa, that one thing was clear: to love God and the poor.
Human Needs Above Rituals Jesus Himself emphasized that love is greater than ritual sacrifice. “…to love your neighbor and yourself is better than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:33). Hosea echoes this: “What I want is love, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6).
One parishioner once confessed she missed Mass because she had to care for her sick daughter. I told her that leaving her daughter would have been the greater sin. Love of neighbor — especially in urgent need — takes precedence over ritual observance.
Conclusion God does not demand perfection but sincerity. He values goodness more than ritual, compassion more than sacrifice. To love God and neighbor is the true fulfillment of the law.
“Lord, teach me to love You with all my heart, and to love my neighbor as myself. May my faith be alive not only in worship but in compassion and service.”
