Jesus tells us that the greatest of commandments is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37-40) The second greatest commandment is this: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Most Christians are comfortable with the idea we are to love God with all we can- even if we fail in being able to love that fully, we understand and appreciate that God is deserving of our love and worship.
Many Christians balk though at the second commandment: to love your neighbor as yourself. "God doesn't mean I have to love so-and-so, does He? That's not who He meant, is it?"
Your neighbor is anyone God has put into your life. You are to show God's love to everyone. Yes, some people are easier to love than others. Some are very difficult, they are cranky or selfish, arrogant or different. They may live a different lifestyle. They may be of a different faith. They may have different political views. Love them anyway. They are the people God has put into your life to be your neighbor.
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
Most Christians are comfortable with the idea we are to love God with all we can- even if we fail in being able to love that fully, we understand and appreciate that God is deserving of our love and worship.
Many Christians balk though at the second commandment: to love your neighbor as yourself. "God doesn't mean I have to love so-and-so, does He? That's not who He meant, is it?"
Your neighbor is anyone God has put into your life. You are to show God's love to everyone. Yes, some people are easier to love than others. Some are very difficult, they are cranky or selfish, arrogant or different. They may live a different lifestyle. They may be of a different faith. They may have different political views. Love them anyway. They are the people God has put into your life to be your neighbor.
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
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