💖 HOMILY - AUGUST 19 💖

First Reading - Ezekiel 37:1-14

Gospel - Matthew 22:34-40

Mother Teresa has beautifully said:"The greatest disease... today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for." The problem, regarding love, has greatly affected many and this has given rise to many international and national problems in the society. Why there is violence? Why there is enmity, revenge and hatred? The one answer is lack of love. Sometimes, we also find ourselves flanked by such situations and surroundings, the readings of the day invite us to revisit the commandment of love as enjoined by Jesus for our Christian life.

The first reading expresses how God sustains the hope of the dispirited people of Israel in exile. The vision of the dry bones, coming to life, stands as a symbolic representation of the restoration of Israel. It gives the message of hope for the people; hope still lies in God. The prophet tries to convey to the people that they can't remain discouraged or disappointed because God will give a new life to them as he gave life to the dry bones in the vision.

The gospel of today keeps the message of hope lighted through the core teaching of Jesus: the commandment of love - which he lived, taught and preached about it. It was out of evil plot of Pharisees, who wanted to trap Jesus, one of them asked the question:"Master, which is the greatest commandment of the law?" By the time Jesus was preaching and teaching, there were 613 laws in effect. Hence, the intricacy lies in sorting out one of them. Jesus gave a very straightforward answer to the question - love. Elaborating this, he said:"You must love your Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." And adding to this, on the parallel stance, "You must love your neighbours as yourself." 

The first commandment that Jesus singles out refers to 'loving God with our heart, soul and mind'. This commandment includes the whole personality of a person or whole being of a person. This commandment demands that God must be loved in totality of all self. There is no any fraction or part dedicated to something or somebody but God alone. It means giving God the first priority of love and 💯% of it. 

The second commandment demands that we have to 'love our neighbours as ourselves'. It means as we love ourselves or as much as we care for ourselves, our comfort, our lives that much of love we have to also invest in our fellow beings. We also have to care for our fellow beings as we care for ourselves; we also have to show concern for others as much as we are concerned about ourselves and thus we will follow the commandment of 'loving our neighbours'.

Dear friends, as long as the commandment of love is followed by us. There will always be hope for the better of everything. There will be no miseries, no exploitation, no threat, no mischief but peace, understanding, and joy etc.

Today the word 'love' is so much exploited and abused for one's benefit. What is this true love Jesus speaks about? It's seeking good for the other whatever and however good or bad situation may be. When Jesus says:"You must love your Lord your God", he means our aim should be to please our God at all time. This is how we can show our love for God. How can we please God? It's by doing what God wills from us. When Jesus says: "You must love your neighbours." He means we should seek good for our fellow being however bad he/she may be and however pathetic he or she may be, just as we love ourselves as we are and in whatever situation are. Let's strive to keep commandment of love which is our Christian identity and law of life. There are many who need love. It's love which can change the pathetic situations of many. Let's become an instrument of love for the unloved, uncared and unwanted.

May God help us keep His commandment of love.