WORD 2day: Wednesday, 31st week in Ordinary time
November 6, 2019: Romans 13:8-10; Luke 14:25-33
'The fullness of law is love,' says St. Paul today. It can be confusing apparently if both the readings of today are taken together. The first speaks of the primacy of love and the Gospel says, unless you hate your father and mother, spouse and children... Aren't they contrary to each other? No... they are not contrary but complementary.
The first reading with no dubious terms establishes the primacy of love and speaks of loving one's neighbour. Understanding the mind of Christ, in which there is no place equal to that given to love, Paul invites us to found out entire life and every choice on love.
The problem arises with the verb "hate" in the Gospel... which bible scholars say is a simplified (infact over-simplified) translation of the word in the original text which would actually mean, "to love less". With that actually the point is made.
Christian love draws from God - God has to be the foundation for any love and that cannot be overlooked! When God is overlooked, "love" can dissipate itself into 'liking', into a mere objectification, a desire to possess, a seeking of self gratification. That is why today, so many things done in the name of "so called" love, goes wrong and takes people to wrong decisions.
Let us remember, even our so-called 'most-loving choices' should be checked in these terms: Is God at its foundation?