Reflections

How then should we love? The correct priority was given by Jesus Himself in

Matthew 22:37 - 39 (NIV) 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment.  39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

So, first love God with all that we are. That is the highest priority. Then love our neighbour as we love ourselves. In The City of God, Augustine wrote, “Two cities have been founded by two loves, the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God. The heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self. The former, in a word, glorifies itself, the latter the Lord.”

We should examine our own hearts carefully and honestly. Do we love ourselves more than God? If so, we need to repent of this misdirected love and turn our love to God instead. Otherwise we may find ourselves amongst the unholy lovers.