The central teaching of Jesus, the essential element of the Christian life is love--love of God above all, with all our being and love of others as Jesus loves them and us. Sacred Scripture offers some very good specifications of that core teaching. The first commandment from Genesis speaks quite clearly: "I am the Lord your God, you shall not have strange Gods before me."
St. Paul teaches so well in his letters:
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law...Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:8,10
Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking; it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure. 1 Cor. 13: 4-7
God of truth, Father of all, you send your Spirit as you promised to bring together in love all whom sin has driven apart. Strengthen us to work for your blessings of unity and peace in the world.
Bishop William R. Houck is the former president of the Catholic Extension Society.
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