"IF ONLY THIS IS DONE, IT IS ENOUGH"
"Charity begins at home," that is, with the persons we live with and work with every day.
St. John the Apostle lived to an advanced age. Toward the end of his life he was so feeble that he had to be carried to church. Though he could not preach at length because of his elderliness, he insisted on saying something at Mass. His message was brief and it was always the same: "My children, love one another." People were bored with regularity of his words, and finally someone got up enough courage to ask, "Master, why do you always say the same thing?" John patiently and calmly replied, "Because it is the command of the Lord; if only this is done, it is enough."
St. John was indeed imitating Jesus who never wearied of preaching the command of love, a command that we have heard once again in today's Gospel of Mark. To love God and love one's neighbor is the greatest commandment of all. Our Lord never tired of repeating it; may we never tire of hearing it, because there is certainly a great need for love in our world. These two commands keep us close to the heart of God.
John was right in saying, "If only this is done, it is enough." If love were the controlling force on this earth, there would be no wars, no riots, and no injustices. We know that we are far from this ideal. Where do we start? I think the answer is obvious. We must start within the framework of our personal lives. "Charity begins at home," that is, with the persons we live with and work with every day. There is no point in complaining about the lack of love that produces wars and riots and injustice if love is not the motivating force in our personal lives. And Jesus knows that there is a lot more room for love in the lives of each one of us.
By declaring our love for God, the outward action of our love toward others takes us from Mass each day and then sends us out into the world. At the end of Mass we say: "Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord." This service is made known in actions of love to others, actions driven by the heart and passion of God revealed in worship. Then from our action in the world we return to the God who sent us for praise, thanksgiving and renewed faith. Just as our heart sends rich blood into the body and returns poor oxygen to the lungs for renewal, love of God and love of neighbor keep us close to the heart of God. That is what we pray today in the responsorial psalm: "I am the Lord your God: hear My voice" (Ps 81), so that we will be close to His heart!
We again and again hear about the command of love. May we never be tired of hearing it, and may we never give up trying to practice it. "It is the command of the Lord; if only this is done, it is enough."