We are Commanded to Love

We are Commanded to Love

In this Sunday Mass Homily at Saint Michael Kalibo, +Bp. Romie-Jun Peñalosa reminded us that we are commanded to love. God commands us to hear and obey Him, and love serves as the foundation of our obedience. In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees and lawyers tested Jesus by asking Him about the greatest commandment. Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” He then added, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” These two commandments summarize the heart of God’s law. Bishop Peñalosa emphasized that loving God is both simple and challenging. It may seem difficult because God already possesses everything, yet He desires our hearts. When we allow His love to fill us, we learn to love Him more deeply and remain faithful to Him. Moreover, we must share His love with others by loving our neighbors as Christ loves them. When we begin to love God, we also learn to love the people He loves. Our love for Him should transform the way we treat others, making us more compassionate, forgiving, and merciful. Ultimately, loving God means surrendering our hearts to Him and allowing Him to change us. We are commanded to love not only through our words but also through our actions. Let us surrender our hearts to Jesus and allow His love to transform our lives, so that we may love God wholeheartedly and love our neighbors as He has commanded us. Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 25, 2026 First Proclamation: Deuteronomy 34:1–12 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1:1–6 Second Proclamation: 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8 Gospel Proclamation: Matthew 22:34–46 https://www.saintmichaelkalibo.com/sermons/we-are-commanded-to-love/?feed_id=1060&_unique_id=6add932ad9b19