Gospel Love

The gospel is truly good news! We are no longer required to remember and follow every nuance and subtlety of Old Testament rules and regulations. We don’t need a priest to offer a sacrifice for our sins. We are free to enter directly into the presence of God through faith. We are free!

Christ came to bring us freedom. We are admonished in today’s reading to “stand firm” in this freedom and not to use our freedom as an excuse to live self-indulgent, self-centred lives. And we are told to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. But what does that really mean?

When I was a child, I was under the twisted impression that loving others meant doing and being anything they wanted me to do or be. I didn’t know that it is not only okay to love myself, it is imperative that I do. I am a child of God. I am created in God’s image. I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and am worthy of love. I honour God best when I care for creation-and that includes me.

God, help me to see and love myself as I should so that I will be able to see and love others as you want me to. Amen. — KG