Three Things which are very essential to practice the Commandment of Love

Gospel Thoughts

30th Week : Sunday

GOSPEL Matthew 22:34-40

First Reading - Ex 22:20-26

Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10

Three Things which are very essential to practice the Commandment of Love

*You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul,and with all your mind*

*1) Importance of the Question*

*Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?*

First of all we must appreciate the person who asked this question. 

Because people tend to ask many questions which pertain to worldly life and about possessing worldly things 

Amidst such an situation here is a person who focuses his attention to ask and clarify something on spiritual matter : greatest commandment of the Lord, how to practice this commandment, need and necessity of it

Something we must pay attention to this. Because such an question can change ones life and may help to live a holy life

*2) You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your Mind*

This aspect speaks about the importance of the Mind

Mind is a very important faculty of human being. It is necessary to think, understand, deepen the knowledge and to know the logic of the commandment

Unless we understand something we can't practice in our life. So the aspect of Mind is very important and necessary to practice the Love commandment

*3)You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart*

*The importance of the Heart*

Heart is the centre of love. Its a place where we feel for the others 

A heartless person will not feel anything for any situation. 

Heart is the centre of emotions from where we are moved to do something

To practice the first commandment, Heart is very much necessary. With out heart we can't practice the love commandment.

*4)You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your Soul/will*

*The third important thing : Soul or Will*

The aspect of soul/will makes a person  to do something at the practical level

The will/ Soul motivates or pushes the person to do something at the practical level. 

So the faculty of will/Soul is very much needed to do some at the practical level 

*5) Mind, Heart, Soul/Will are closely connected*

These three are not separate and independent faculties

There is no watertight division between these three faculties. 

If they function at independent level then there can't be complete action, but only an incomplete action 

So collaboration between these three things are very much necessary for the practice of the Love commandment

*6) My Life :Is there a perfect balance among these three faculties*

Where do I stand? 

Am I only at the Mind level. Many people get stuck with this level. What about me? 

*Some people move from mind to heart.* 

It is said *The longest journey you will ever take is the 18 inches from your head to your heart.”*—Andrew Bennett 

Have I remained at heart level, after moving from the mind? 

Still not enough. It only makes you to feel 

Only very few people move from, mind to heart and from heart to soul/will

Jesus is very particular in mentioning all these three faculties, so we can understand the need of it. 

So it is very important to move from mind to heart and from heart to the Soul? 

In which stage I am?

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*