“LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR”
“LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR”
“And the second is similar: You will love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Matthew 22:39)
Love does no harm to others; so the fulfillment of the law is love. Words of the Apostle Paul. If we obey the command to love our neighbor, the other statements of the law, those that condemn attitudes that hurt our neighbor, will lose their importance.
Love, in fact, is the fulfillment of the law. Because love does not work evil against others. Therefore, if we do not love each other, everything is compromised. Even if we speak in tongues, we cast out demons, we master all fields of theology, we have visions of heaven and angels. Without love, there is no Christian life or faith. Love is long-suffering, it is benign; love is not envious, love is not boastful, it is not puffed up; does not do anything improper, does not seek his own, does not get irritated, does not hold a grudge; one does not enjoy injustice, but one enjoys the truth. (1 Cor 13: 4-6)
Here Paul confronts us with the characteristics of love. If we love, we don’t envy, we don’t brag (we take advantage), and we don’t take pride in our relationships. Whoever loves does not hit, does not attack, does not control, does not abuse, does not use as if it were an object, does not take advantage, does not cheat, does not act without considering the consequences for the other.
If we are guided by love of neighbor, injustice will find no place in us. If anyone says: I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And we have this commandment from him: He who loves God, love his brother also (1 John 4: 20-21)
Now it is Juan who speaks to us. It tells us that if we do not act with love for the other, the love that we claim to have for GOD will be a sham, because love for GOD without love for our neighbor is not true love. This is very serious because it becomes a criterion of judgment for our spirituality.
So these are some implications for the duty to love. In the faith that JESUS taught us, loving is not an option and not just any love is what works, but the love that takes as a point of reference is GOD. And it all starts with the love we receive from GOD. And if we receive love, we must give love.
Beloved FATHER, may Your immense love always cover my heart and be the point of reference to glorify You by loving my neighbor as Your Word dictates. In the name of JESUS. Amen and Amen.
