Today’s psalm speaks of the person who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night. A good starting point to meditate on God’s law or word is lectio divina. But rather than concentrating on lectio, I would like to focus briefly on God’s love today, which is enkindled by the meditation of the words He has given to us.
In the Bible we find God’s divine law, which is no other than a law of love. Pondering over God’s words can only produce good fruits. Saint Paul, who had a great knowledge of the Scriptures, used a radical expression to make clear what is at stake when it comes to adhering to Christ and his divine words: I consider all things so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him, (it is the verse to the Alleluia in today’s readings).
How To Acquire God’s Love
I will present what Aquinas and his exceptional understanding of the human mind says about the love of God (and yes, there is a connection with God’s word). Saint Thomas says that there are two dispositions to obtain the love of God, and two dispositions to increase it.
To acquire God’s love, we need:
1. To listen to God’s Word attentively: by listening to his Word, we are inflamed in love of him, and he puts the example of the disciples of Emmaus: “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Lk 24: 32)
2. That we be always inclined to think good things: “my heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned” (Ps 39: 3). If you would like to obtain God’s love, think good things, harbor good thoughts. The book of Wisdom shows us the effect of doing the opposite: “For perverse thoughts separate men from God” (1: 3). Quite straightforward, isn’t’ it, then?
How to Increase God’s Love Within Us
1. Detach your hearts from worldly things: Thomas uses a graphic image: the heart of the person who wants to be perfect or holy cannot allow to be pulled in different directions, because it is impossible that our hearts love God and money, and he warns us against avarice.
Also does Saint Paul: “For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs”, and “as for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God who richly furnishes us with everything to enjoy” (1 Tim 6: 10 and 18). Aquinas adds that religious orders were created so that through them, human beings would be detached from material things and be lifted to God.
2. To suffer adversity patiently: when we face up difficulties for someone we love, our love does not disappear but rather increases: “Deep waters cannot quench love” (Cant. 8: 7).
Are we, then, ready to listen to God’s words attentively and keep good thoughts? God’s love is a gift which can be increased. Are we, then, prompt to detach ourselves from material things and suffer adversity? I hope this reflection helps us to keep and increase God’s love within our hearts.
God bless you!
Thank you, Deborah.
I know the Lord will grant it to you.
Best wishes,
Fr. Marcelo
Thank you Fr Marcelo, this reflection has prompted me to pray for more patience to suffer adversity and to listen to God’s word more attentively.