31st Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 08th November 2023 — Romans 13,8-10; Lk 14,25-33
Debt of Love
In the first reading, Paul maintains the supremacy of love. He says that the only debt we should incur with others is the debt of love, because, in loving another person we are fulfilling the requirements of the law. The love owed to others is the one debt that can never be paid off. No matter how much we have loved, we are still under an obligation to keep on loving, including those who wish us harm. This love commandment also presumes that we love ourselves. Probably we may feel guilty about being selfish and self-centred. But that is not real self-love. Real self-love means the total recognition and acknowledgment of ourselves as we are, including both strengths and weaknesses. Most of the time, we hide our real selves by hiding behind masks and creating an image that will impress others. However, without a healthy self-love, there is a lack of inner security making it difficult to reach out in love to others. Paul’s teaching reminds one of St.Augustine’s famous dictum: “Love and do what you like” or Paul’s own saying, “Love covers a multitude of sins.” If one’s actions are motivated by a genuine love and concern for the well-being of others we cannot go wrong in any form (Rom 3,9). The sincere love remains as a measure of our quality of our Christian life.
