THURSDAY OF THE 9th WEEK OF THE YEAR II ORDINARY TIME, DAILY REFLECTIONS AND MEDITATIONS

1. 2Tm 2:8-15

2. Gospel: Mk 12:28-34

" OUR GREATEST COMMANDMENT"

In the course of reading many books including stories, I came a cross this story about a puppy that for the first time ventured out in the farm. Each animal the puppy met boasted of its usefulness and the great position each occupied in the heart of their master. Feeling useless and humbled the little dog found a secluded place and began to cry. However, that night when the master came home, the little puppy ran to him, licked his feet and jumped into his arms. Falling to the ground, the master and puppy romped in the grass. Finally holding him close to his chest the master said, " No matter how tired I am when I get home, I feel better when you greet me. I wouldn't trade you for all the animals in the farm."

In our today's gospel we are reminded about the commandment of Love.  Loving God requires humility and playfulness of a child. No matter how much I have learned in the philosophy, theology and other secular studies and what position I occupy, if I do not approach God and love Him with total abandon and surrender of everything, my love for Him will always remain wanting. Not that  I shall reach perfection in my loving; and yet, the desire and the decision to be perfect must burn in heart all the days of my life. It is what God wants; it is the reason for my existence; it is the source of my happiness that only God can provide.

The next step is loving my neighbor. When I begin to love neighbor because I love God, then I can be sure that my love is genuine. It won't be self seeking, it will not be selfish, instead it will be godlike, because loving one's neighbor now becomes integrated in my love for God. Then what does Jesus mean when he says love of neighbor? love of neighbor means radical love;  love that does not seek interest or any benefit for itself;  a love that sees the image of God in each one of us.