“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:36-38
“I think the most certain sign that we keep these two commandments is that we have a genuine love for others. We cannot know whether we love God although there may be strong reasons for thinking so, but there can be no doubt about whether we love our neighbor or not. Be sure that in proportion as you advance in fraternal charity, you are increasing in your love of God, for His Majesty bears so tender an affection for us that I cannot doubt He will repay our love for others by augmenting, in a thousand different ways, that which we bear for Him. We should watch most carefully over ourselves in this matter, for if we are faultless on this point we have done all. I believe human nature is so evil that we could not feel a perfect charity for our neighbor unless it were rooted in the love of God.”
Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) in The Interior Castle (London: Thomas Baker, 1921) 63.
How are you doing at loving others generously? Ironically, most people find it easy to love God and, simultaneously, they agree that it is far more difficult to love others! So how do we grow in this area?
Teresa puts her finger on the key: “I believe human nature is so evil that we could not feel a perfect charity for our neighbour unless it were rooted in the love of God.” To advance in fraternal charity, we must increase in our love for God.
Father in heaven, thank you for unfathomable love for us despite our unworthiness. Help us, by your Holy Spirit, to extend that same love to all people, even the most unworthy around us, so that everyone knows of your kindness. Hear our prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.