Wednesday 8 November 2023

Today is Wednesday 8 November, in the 31st week of Ordinary time.

Paul Zach, with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘The Greatest Commandment’.

Love the Lord your God
With all your heart and soul and mind
And love your neighbor as yourself
Love the Lord your God
With all your heart and soul and mind
And love your neighbor as yourself
Let us be known, let us be known
By the way we love
Let us be known, let us be known
By the way we love
Love the Lord your God
With all your heart and soul and mind
And love your neighbor as yourself
Love, love, love, the greatest commandment is
Love, love, love, the greatest commandment is
Love, love, love, the greatest commandment is love

Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans.

Rom 13:8-10

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

How do love and law come into the same sentence? Observing rules and regulations is usually seen as a work of obligation, not of love, yet Paul, the rigorously faithful Pharisee, tells us that love is the fulfilment of God’s law. Take time to let that thought take root in your mind and heart.

The essence of this law of love written on the heart lies in learning to love ourselves. How good are you at doing that? What helps you truly to love yourself? What makes it difficult for you to think of and treat yourself lovingly?

As we hear the reading repeated, allow the words about law and love to resonate within you. Where are your feelings and desires leading you as you listen?

Whether we have found ourselves focusing on loving God, ourself or our neighbour, God is inviting us to grow in obedience – a word that means attentive listening. We listen to Jesus’ new commandment that we love one another. What does this reflection invite you to say to God in the depth of your heart?


Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.