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Loving neighbor as gift of self radiates from the practice of the first and greatest commandment — loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. St. Bede, a seventh-century spiritual father and gifted writer, comments how “neither of these two kinds of love is expressed with full maturity without the other, because God cannot be loved apart from our neighbor, nor our neighbor apart from God.”
Our Catholic Watchmen prayer intention for February zeros in on this: That by loving God — first and foremost — and by the love of neighbor, we may no longer live for ourselves, but for Jesus, who died for our sake and was raised up to bring us to new life. Jesus’ adamant manner of defining “neighbor” with a universal comprehensiveness that offers one’s gift of self — through love of God and neighbor — seeks and supports the dignity of the human person in all phases of life.
As sisters and brothers of Jesus, if we are to understand this twofold commandment — loving God and loving neighbor — Christ truly challenges us further to live out this commitment. Because it puts us in lockstep on the road to the kingdom of God — along with the scribe who boldly asked our Lord the question: “Which commandment is the first of all?” (Mk 12:28). Jesus gives not only the greatest but the next commandment in line, presenting this combination of loving God and loving our fellow human beings as inseparable. As St. Bede expresses, “God cannot be loved apart from our neighbor.”
Similar to the scribe who asked Jesus to flush out the greatest commandment from the complexity of 613 Jewish precepts, our desire to simplify things in life may not be a whole lot different. As spiritual leaders, providers and protectors of the faith in our own families, recognizing Jesus’ wisdom in linking the first and greatest commandment of loving God to love of neighbor helps to guide us on that path. Loving neighbor as oneself can only flow from the practice of the first and greatest commandment. It may be simple to understand and agree with; yet delivering upon Jesus’ uncompromising manner of loving God and neighbor means that every ounce of strength we have is committed to knowing and serving God. This involves willing the good of the other and a true offering of one’s gift of self to another.
How can we love those God has placed in our path — our neighbor — and instruct our family and those in our sphere of influence by our Christian leadership? In pastoral care and outreach ministry, I witness the greatness of God working through the ordinary hands of others: 1) donating to and working the food shelves so our neighbors in our county and surrounding counties do not go hungry; 2) knitting and distributing prayer shawls to comfort those in need; 3) supporting and funding clothing and blanket drives for our mission; 4) tending to those who have lost a loved one or for one that is sick; 5) being the image of Christ to a lonely neighbor grieving the loss of a loved one; 6) inviting or bringing a neighbor or loved one to Mass that hasn’t been there in a while; 7) praying the rosary fervently at Planned Parenthood for the transformation of the hearts of others to be life-giving and not walk in those doors. These are just a few examples, and what boundless joy I see it brings the givers as much as the recipients!
By living this twofold love of God and neighbor with the talents, gifts and time we are given, we are seeking and nearing the Kingdom of God — heart, soul, mind and strength — helping imitate Christ in fulfilling his mission.
Deacon Bird ministers at St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville, and assists with the archdiocese’s Catholic Watchmen movement. Learn more about the Catholic Watchmen at archspm.org/faith-communities/men.
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