Love of God and Neighbor
Introduction
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We are in the month of November. It is an important
month since we reflect on life after death. That is why we celebrated all
saints day and all souls day.
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Two things we do in this month;
o
Praying for the dead
§
For our dear and near ones that they enter into
heaven if they are in their state of purification.
o
Preparing for the death
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Reflecting on the last realities – heaven, purgatory
and hell
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Thinking of how to get into the heaven – Jesus teaches
us what to do to enter into eternal bliss with Jesus in today’s gospel.
Content
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Background of this passage:
o
For Jews at the time of Jesus they had to obey
600 plus laws to be the beloved of Yahweh. For an ordinary man it was difficult
to remember 600 plus laws in order to see whether he/she were obeying it or
not. So they used to ask the teachers of the law to summarize these laws into a
capsule form so that they would keep that in their mind, obey that and attain
the blessings of God.
o
Jesus, a prominent teacher, summarized the whole
laws into two commandments – love of God and love of neighbor.
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I was thinking in my childhood days that the
most easy commandment is ‘love God’, since nobody can check whether I love or
not. But later I came across the text from I John 4:20, “if anyone says, l love
God, and hate his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother
whom he sees cannot love God whom he cannot see”.
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Love of God has two components;
o
Undivided love
§
Always first preference to God and His Kingdom
in my life
o
Unconditional love
§
I do not love God because I have received “blessings”
but since he is my God, without Him I cannot exist.
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Love of neighbor has three components;
o
Patient love
§
God is so patient to us who gives us chances in
our life thinking that we would return to Him.
o
Forgiving love
§
Jesus taught us to forgive 7X70 times
(unlimited)
o
Self-giving love
§
The love that we see on the cross
Conclusion
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In this month of November let us pray for the
departed brethren.
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Let us also obey the law of love to reach the
heavenly kingdom –undivided and unconditional love of God, and Love of
neighbor that should be patient, forgiving and self-giving.
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