“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. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
“St Brendan once asked Ita what were the three works most pleasing to God, and the three works most displeasing to Him. St Ita answered, ‘Three things that please God most are true faith in God with a pure heart, a simple life with a grateful spirit, and generosity inspired by charity. The three things that most displease God are a mouth that hates people, a heart harboring resentment, and a confidence in wealth.’ St Brendan and all who were there, hearing that opinion, glorified God in His chosen one.”
St Brendan and St Ita in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 766.
Consider the simplicity of St Brendan’s question and the content of St Ita’s answer. Having faith in God with purity, living simply with gratitude, and extending grace-filled generosity to others pleases God. These three reflect loving God and loving our neighbor.
And on the flip side, what displeases God are a mouth that hates people, a heart that harbors resentment, and faith in wealth. These sound like three defining traits of the world around us. They reveal a lack of care for others and failure to trust in God.
God, reveal any impurity to our faith, teach us to live simply and generously. Cause your love to flow from our hearts and lips as we trust you rather than wealth to sustain us. In your mercy hear our prayer and work by your Spirit so our lives please you we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.