The first question “why” is pretty clear to us. We are called to love because God is love and we are made in God’s image. The Gospel today answers that question too, we are called to love because Jesus has commanded us to. All of the commandments of the law are summed up in the command to love God and love neighbor.
The Holy Father then answers “what is love” by reflecting on the different concepts of love from theology and philosophy, eros, philia, and agape, and their relationship to Christ’s teaching.
He then answers “how Christians are called to love” by showing how Christian charity is carried out in the different spheres of society, in politics, in what is often called “social justice”.
“The Christian's program” writes Benedict, “the program of Jesus—is “a heart which sees”. Christians are to attune their hearts to the heart of Jesus, and thereby develop a heart which sees what is needed, and acts accordingly. Jesus saw the need, the greatest need in the universe, the need for human redemption, our salvation from hell became God’s highest priority. He saw our need, and acted accordingly, laying down his life, embracing the cross and death for us, to save us. There is no greater love than his for us.
So, the Christian heart, attuned to Christ, through an encounter and recognition of his love, for us, for me and you personally, also sees the needs in the world, and acts accordingly.
Love, is not simply an emotion, or a feeling. Our Christian call to love isn’t simply to go through our neighborhoods and have fluffy feelings about everyone. Rather, the call to love, is a call to be attentive to need, and to act accordingly, to lay down our lives to bring Christ’s mercy into the lives of others, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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God the Father was glorified in the death and resurrection of his Son. Let us pray to him with all confidence.
God the Father bathed the world in splendor when Christ rose again in glory, may our minds be filled with the light of faith.
Through the resurrection of His Son, the Father opened for us the way to eternal life, may we be sustained today in our work with the hope of glory.
Through His risen Son, the Father sent the Holy Spirit into the world, may our hearts be set on fire with spiritual love.
May Jesus Christ, who was crucified to set us free, be the salvation of all those who suffer, particularly those who suffer from physical or mental illness, addiction, and grief.
For all of our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from all physical and spiritual evil, and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith lives of their families.
That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.
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