Exodus 22:20–26; Psalm 18 (17); 1 Thessalonians 1:5–10; Matthew 22:34–40
Why Should I Love?
Dear friends, today is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, with only four weeks remaining before the end of Liturgical Year A. Our theme today asks a fundamental question: “Why Should I Love?” The answer is found in today’s readings, which remind us that love is at the heart of God’s commandments. We are called to love God and our neighbours because love fulfils the law and guides us towards living according to God’s will.
According to our Christian faith, God created the universe and humanity not out of necessity but out of LOVE. He created us in his image and likeness (Gen 1:26–27) and gave us life (Gen 2:7) so that we might share in his divine life. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, he did not abandon them but sought to bring them back to himself. Love was his driving force. When love guides us, forgiveness becomes possible.
Because sin weakened our ability to choose good over evil, God gave us commandments to guide us towards righteousness. The Ten Commandments address our relationship with God and with one another. The first three teach us how to relate to our Creator, while the remaining seven guide us in treating our fellow human beings with dignity and respect.
We come to know God through his revelation in Scripture and through the natural law written in our hearts, which helps us distinguish right from wrong. The Old Testament recounts the history of the people God chose to prepare the way for the salvation of all humanity.
Yet, just as we see in the Old Testament, our own cultures and societies often struggle with injustice and inequality. The rich and powerful thrive while the poor and vulnerable suffer. Some traditional practices degrade women and children, while racial and ethnic discrimination, colonial attitudes, and unfair economic structures continue to disadvantage entire communities and nations.
These evils persist because we often follow human ambitions rather than God’s wisdom. Jesus once rebuked Peter for thinking according to human standards rather than God’s will. Much of the corruption and injustice we witness today results from ignoring God’s commandments. The consequences are conflict, misery, suffering, and death.
In the first reading, God warns us that if we make the poor cry out to him, he will hear them and come to their rescue. Oppressing the vulnerable therefore puts us in direct opposition to God. Sometimes we wonder why, despite our wealth, education, positions, and power, we lack peace and happiness. Perhaps we need to examine how we treat others and conduct our daily affairs.
Jesus revealed God’s love through his teachings and actions. The parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son (Luke 15) show how far God is willing to go to seek, rescue, and welcome us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that the greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbour as ourselves.
Look closely at human life, and you will see how children gradually learn many attitudes from their surroundings. Hatred, selfishness, jealousy, and destructive competition can grow as we mature. To remain in God’s love, we must be vigilant because evil can disguise itself as goodness. Without the spiritual wisdom that comes from God’s commandments, we can easily be led astray.
Righteousness is not measured by how eloquently we speak about goodness, but by the small acts of love we show others, regardless of who they are. When selfish interests become our motivation, our actions lose their true character of love. As Jesus teaches, the entire Law and the Prophets depend on love of God and neighbour (Matthew 22:40).
We may attend Mass regularly, give generously, build places of worship, and dedicate our lives to ministry, but without love, all these efforts lose their value. St. Paul makes this clear in his beautiful reflection on love in 1 Corinthians 13:1–13.
Dear friends, today’s invitation is to examine our lives and ask ourselves: Are we motivated by love or by selfishness? The answer may explain much about how we live and relate to others. If we consider God’s commandments too burdensome to keep, how can we expect him to help us carry the burdens of our lives? Keeping God’s commandments is not a burden; it is a way of allowing God to guide and transform us.
Have a loving Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
