By Jenna Scott, Program Assistant, Sidewalk Advocates for Life
Verse(s): “‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.’” — Matthew 22:36-40
Reflection: It seems so easy, right? Yet, to love God with all your heart, mind and soul means to put Him first, even when difficult. Even the apostle Peter struggled with this and denied Jesus three times. We must realize that true love requires sacrifice. That may mean losing friends because you are pro-life — or in some parts of the world, it literally can mean losing your life. But to love God means we put Him first, no matter what.
The other part — love your neighbor as yourself — is often misunderstood. First, notice how we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves — not more than yourself, not less than yourself, but as yourself. That means you want the best for that person, as you would want for yourself. Hate has no place in this equation; also, it doesn’t mean we condone all they do. We must show our neighbor the kind of love that helps them become more of who God wants them to be.
Faith Challenge: First, spend time in prayer and ask — what is blocking you from a greater relationship with God? Are you loving Him with all your heart, mind, and soul? Pray for help and take steps to put Him first so you can become more of the person He wants you to be and more fully put on the armor of God while defending the unborn. Second, look at how you treat others: Are you loving others as He has commanded? How do you treat the woman-in-crisis and her companions while on the sidewalk? Clinic workers? We are commanded to reach out with His love and hope (while not condoning what they do). Remember: you never know how much your love is changing someone’s heart!