29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 22/10/2017 - Gospel: Mt 22:15-21
Affection
Affection is a visible sign of love. It is through affection that we are able to see the love of someone for other person or for something. Affection is a feeling of liking and caring for someone or something manifested through human interactions. Language of love includes verbals and no verbals and physical gestures, giving and receiving times and gifts. It is demonstrated through physical appearances or in the form of gifts and of electronic means. It is nice to know that you are being loved by someone and that love confirms to you that you are a loveable person; able to receive and able to give love. True affection has its foundation on what is in the heart and that empowers the brain to act it out. We do it just because we love that person and the love given is unconditional love. Love by choice or choice affection happens when we choose to show our love for that person with a hidden purpose and that is conditional love.
The Pharisees asked Jesus: 'Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law? Jesus answered them: 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: you must love your neighbour as yourself'.
Jesus gave the answer probably it came from his own personal experience. It was from his childhood that His parent taught Him to love God above all things, love with all his heart, mind and soul and he had been growing up in that loving atmosphere. We all know that without love we are not here on earth and without sufficient love we can't survive. Love is the most important thing in life that gives life, support life and most importantly true love offers eternal life. Jesus requires those who love God that their love must come from a true loving heart, not a choice love but truly love deep from their heart and that love makes our mind tune in to love God. The visible sign of our loving God is to love our neighbour. The word 'all' heart, mind and soul stresses that loving God is our first priority and next to it is our neighbour. Jesus loves us with all his heart, mind and soul and he expects us to love him in the same way. It is not an equality of love in return but when we love some dearly we love them with all our being, no reservation. True love requires voluntary sacrifice. It counts no cost and has no conditions. Jesus has loved us by dying for us. His sacrificial love costs his life and it was an act of voluntary on His part to show how much He loved us.
Jesus required loving God with all mind and heart and soul because He has experienced that some loved God from their lips while their hearts were far away from God. He wouldn't accept love with empty promises. To love God from the lips or only part of our being is considered as a choice love and a choice love is subjective and intention. Loving God needs to demonstrate through loving our neighbour and how to love our neighbour? It is measured by loving oneself. Love others as you love your own self.
The Pharisees asked Jesus: 'Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law? Jesus answered them: 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: you must love your neighbour as yourself'.
Jesus gave the answer probably it came from his own personal experience. It was from his childhood that His parent taught Him to love God above all things, love with all his heart, mind and soul and he had been growing up in that loving atmosphere. We all know that without love we are not here on earth and without sufficient love we can't survive. Love is the most important thing in life that gives life, support life and most importantly true love offers eternal life. Jesus requires those who love God that their love must come from a true loving heart, not a choice love but truly love deep from their heart and that love makes our mind tune in to love God. The visible sign of our loving God is to love our neighbour. The word 'all' heart, mind and soul stresses that loving God is our first priority and next to it is our neighbour. Jesus loves us with all his heart, mind and soul and he expects us to love him in the same way. It is not an equality of love in return but when we love some dearly we love them with all our being, no reservation. True love requires voluntary sacrifice. It counts no cost and has no conditions. Jesus has loved us by dying for us. His sacrificial love costs his life and it was an act of voluntary on His part to show how much He loved us.
Jesus required loving God with all mind and heart and soul because He has experienced that some loved God from their lips while their hearts were far away from God. He wouldn't accept love with empty promises. To love God from the lips or only part of our being is considered as a choice love and a choice love is subjective and intention. Loving God needs to demonstrate through loving our neighbour and how to love our neighbour? It is measured by loving oneself. Love others as you love your own self.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia