By Ajit Kumar Takiri –
Readings: Tob 6:10-11; 7:1bcde, 9-17, 8: 4-9a; Mk 12: 28-34
Both the readings are inviting us to be filled with God’s love towards our neighbours. Jesus teaches us how we need to love God and our neighbours. Jesus loved his Father with all his heart and mind; therefore, through his death he surrendered himself to his will. It was the genuine love that he had for his Father that made him successfully complete the mission here on earth.
Though he was in the form of God, he became a human for us. By hanging on the cross, he showed his true love towards God and humanity by stretching out both his hands and saying, “see this much I love you”. I feel it is because of his endless love that the world still exists today and the people are ready to reach out to others and share their love with one another.
It is easy to say ‘love God and neighbour,’ but difficult to show in actions. Some people find it easier to show love in action because of their genuine love for God. I feel it is the genuine love for God that makes them share that love for others. If we pour water into an already filled glass, it will overflow. In the same way, those hearts that are already filled with love for God will definitely be able to show love for their neighbours. If we love God, we will surely love our neighbours, it is like two sides of a coin. Similarly, if any person says that I love God but hates his neighbour, he/she is the biggest hypocrite in the world.
To gain eternal life, we do not need to be highly qualified in many subjects in our life. But Jesus sees whether we have qualified ourselves with our love for God and of our neighbour. Jesus does not see our education, power, or wealth but he sees our heart which is filled with love. So, let us fill our hearts with love for God and for our neighbours and qualify ourselves to be worthy to enter the kingdom of heaven.