Whatever You Do, Do it for Love

In explaining the readings for the week, Fr. Dom said “let your actions be motivated by love because where there is love there is the presence of God.” He added that love begins with self-love, love of neighbor and God.  His words echo that of St. Thomas Aquinas:

“The Law of divine love is the standard for all human actions”

St. Aquinas explains 4 points on divine love (charity)- which includes love of God, love of self and neighbor.

1. Love transforms us and makes us one spirit in God because ‘Whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him(1 Jn 4:16). Whoever is joined to God becomes one spirit with him.’(1Cor 6:17).  On the contrary, Whoever does not love, remains in death. (1 Jn 3:14).

“ If a person possesses all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but lacks charity(divine love), that person has no life. For it matters not whether one has the grace of tongues, or the gift of faith, or any other gift such as prophecy; these do not bring life without charity. Even if a dead body should be adorned with gold and precious jewels, it nevertheless remains dead.”

2. When our actions are motivated by divine love, we will observe the commandments and keep the word. Whoever loves me will keep my word (Jn14:23).

3. Divine love also protects us when adversity strikes because we learn to accept difficulties and believe that All things work for good for those who love God (Rom 8:28).

4. Subsequently, divine love brings joy and peace into the soul

We are reminded that Love begins with ourselves. Loving ourselves is not a selfish thing but rather something very basic. St. Aquinas explains that true self-love is well-ordered and natural. It seeks true good in both spiritual and temporal. On the contrary, inordinate self-love is false self-love, which is guided by one’s own will rather than the right reason and the will of God. This is when one‘s ego rebels against the law of God. This is selfishness- motivated by self-gratification and pleasure, which destroys the soul.

Hence, whatever you do, do it for love. For the greatest of them is Love and God is Love.

 As St Augustine puts it

 “As the soul is the life of the body, so God is the life of the soul.”