In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus cuts short the modern Western tendency to oppose love to law, and law to joy. Jesus unites these three concepts and calls us to a new attitude.
I. Announcement of the Principle – Jesus says: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete."
Note how the Lord associates the three concepts of love, law, and joy. This is precisely the opposite of what Western culture does. The best that Western culture can admit about the law is that it is a necessary evil; more often, it is considered an unloving imposition by the powerful on the weak, by the hierarchy on the laity, by the (bad, oppressive, pharisaical) Church on honest people.
While the modern world disconnects law from love, Jesus links them. How do we experience and show God's love? Jesus says we do so by keeping His commandments. He sets forth a vision wherein, after experiencing God's love, we desire and rejoice in His commandments.
Again, this goes against modern notions. According to the modern world, a "loving" God has few or no rules. He merely affirms, encourages, accepts, and includes—or so it is thought. If someone is confronted with a moral truth they dislike, their response can be as simplistic as "God is love." This implies God does not care what we do since He is loving and merciful. It also confuses love with mere kindness. Kindness is an aspect of Love, but so are rebuke and correction. No loving parent will simply affirm bad behavior in their children. They will correct and, if necessary, punish them because they love them.
Jesus is certainly loving, especially towards sinners. He encourages, He includes the outcast, and so forth, but He also speaks of sin and rebukes it. He embraces the sinner but also tells them "Sin no more." He sets forth a demanding moral vision while showing mercy. In this Gospel, Jesus links love and law, saying that law brings joy. They are not opposed. It is not a choice of one or the other, but both together.
Jesus was not merely the "chief affirmer" who only said pleasant things. He and His apostles who spoke for Him also speak against anger, greed, malice, neglect of the poor, divorce, fornication, adultery, impure thoughts, homosexual acts, lack of faith, revenge, dishonesty, the sin of human respect, false and worldly priorities, and countless other issues.
II. Application of the Principle – The two greatest commandments that summarize the entire law are to love God and to love our neighbor. Therefore, to further link the Law and God's Love, we should consider that when we love the Lord, and His love remains in us, we will love what He loves and whom He loves. Thus, with the Lord's love in us, we will love justice, chastity, forgiveness, generosity, and so on. We will also come to love others more deeply, even those who trouble us.
Thus, we come to a deep love of the Commandments when we truly love God. We can say:
"God has been good to me and I love Him. If God wills it, so do I. If God does not will it, neither do I."
This is why Jesus says:
"If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love."
As for love of neighbor, here too, the Commandments are essential. They foster a common moral vision that helps us live together, protect the most vulnerable (especially children), and live within accepted boundaries. Good fences make good neighbors, and God's commandments set proper limits and define expectations and rights for community life. Accepting and living the Commandments brings blessings and avoids many problems. We do not keep the Commandments only for our own good, but for our families, our community, our Church, and our nation. Thus, keeping the Commandments is a way of loving our neighbor.
While some see the Commandments as prison walls, they are not. They are defensive walls that keep out the wolf and the devourer, the devil. It is also a way to show love to our neighbor. Anything we can do to limit the devil's influence is a blessing not only for us but for others.
III. The Animation of the Principle – In today's Gospel, Jesus not only links love to keeping the commandments but also says that keeping the commandments leads to joy: "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete."
On this, I am a witness. When I entered the seminary nearly forty years ago, I was poorly catechized (having been largely raised in the 1970s). I don't even think I could have listed most of the Ten Commandments. But upon entering, I was astonished by the rich heritage of teaching, truth, and wisdom that came from the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church that I was studying.
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God's truth and law made sense; they were practical, good, true, and beautiful. I was animated, delighted in my soul to learn it, and somewhat angry at all that had been denied me in the wild 1970s. In my life now, I rejoice in studying God's law and truth, preaching it, and teaching it to others. Within it are contained saving truths and truths that explain the purpose of our life. So many people today live without true meaning, and they focus on passing things and fads. But God's Law is tested and true. It has endured because it makes sense and works. I think of the words of Baruch: "Happy are we, O Israel, for what pleases God is known to us!" (Bar 4:4)
Indeed, Lord, how I love your law! It is the joy and center of my life. It brings me understanding and purpose. It teaches me your wisdom and calls me to be the man you created me to be. Yes, Lord, it is my immense joy and privilege to proclaim your Law in the great assembly and to joyfully announce your wisdom and decrees. Keep me faithful, Lord, until death.
08 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; * The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.
09 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; * The command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye.
10 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; * The ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just.
11 They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; * Sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb.
12 By them your servant is instructed; * observing them brings great reward.
13 Who can detect all his errors? From hidden faults acquit me.
14 From presumption restrain your servant and let it not rule me. * Then shall I be blameless, clean from grave sin.
15 Let the words of my mouth meet with your favor, keep the thoughts of my heart before you, * Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19
This homily was originally published in English by Monsignor Charles Pope – ADW – Article link.