Heart, Soul and Mind
The trouble with us humans is we are far too human. By that I mean we fail, we make mistakes, we freely choose to do the wrong thing, we ignore the big picture, we don’t dig deeper, we miss the point — in other words, our very nature is fallen, it’s broken, it’s a mess.
But the root of the trouble is that being human is not supposed to be the way it is. We were created in the image and likeness of God. Our first ancestors walked and conversed in the garden freely with God. Our God, as our readings tell us today, is compassionate, living, and true. Compassionate — so full of love that He used that love to create us, simply because He loves us and wants to give love completely. Living — so full of life that He gives us life, and gives it to us abundantly, both here and in eternity. True — the very definition of reality, the source of all existence, the source and ultimate standard of what is and how we perceive it.
I would be remiss if I didn’t add something we all probably know already, but is worth repeating. Unlike the world would have us believe, love is not a feeling or an emotion. It may give us a good feeling, but that’s just a byproduct. Love is far more. It is the giving of self for the good of another, putting the other’s welfare first. That’s definitely what God does when He loves us.
And out of His love, life and truth, God also gave us free will, because His love means He wasn’t looking to make puppets, but beings who could freely love in return. We chose — and often continue to choose — something besides love. In the garden, the choice was not God’s love but an attempt to be like God, and not in the way that God set out for us – loving Him with our whole heart, our whole soul and our whole mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Thousands of years of sinfulness resulted in the living and loving true God to so love the world that He sent His Son, who lived, suffered and died for us, taking our sins upon Himself and becoming the sacrificial lamb offered up to the Father. Jesus saved us from our sins! Yet, in our human frailty and brokenness, we don’t yet end our sinfulness.
But our readings today show us the path to remedy that situation. Love, people. Turn to God, and worship and serve Him. Love others, and bring God’s love to them by serving them. Imitate Jesus by sacrificing yourself for the good of someone else. Step outside of yourself and care about others. Be compassionate, as God is compassionate. Love, indeed, is the answer. And remember, as St. John tells us, God is Love. Loving God with our whole heart, soul and mind is loving how God loves. Salvation history is fulfilled in Jesus’ love, but it only continues to grow when we love as well. Lord, help me love as I should.
— Mike Karpus
Reflection provided by diocesan.com. Reprinted with permission.