The Law of Love

“The Commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, [namely] ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.” [Romans 13: 9-10]

Let us ponder: “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” Within this law of love is the healing and redemption that every person needs; therefore, we are called to take this fulfillment beyond our neighbors. “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” [Luke 6: 27, 28]

Upholding Our Lord’s law is the answer to achieving true peace and justice in our world. “To pardon an injustice received is to heal the wound in your own heart,” according to St. Vincent de Paul. Such healing is God’s loving mercy working within each of us, giving us the strength of heart to share His mercy with one another; in doing so, the peace of our Lord and the virtue of justice remain with us. Yet, so many have rejected God’s law.

Healing Our Divisions

Should we decide to separate ourselves from God and His teachings as so many already have, we lose sight of the healing unity that comes with forgiveness and redemption. We expose ourselves to utter lawlessness and deepening division.“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house” [Luke 11:17].

To stop such destruction and to change hearts and minds for the sake of peace and justice, we need to follow God’s law taught to us by the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus Christ. He knew He would be betrayed, but Christ never stopped loving; He never stopped forgiving. In His Passion and Crucifixion, Christ suffered unimaginable pain and persecution caused by humankind, but He did not give up on humanity. Instead, Christ fulfilled God’s law to save humanity.

“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’” [Luke 23: 34] We could argue that those who commit evil in our world know what they are doing. However, if we do not fulfill God’s law as Christ calls us to do, our wounds will not heal, laying waste to our lives and to our world.

Peace and Justice

Fulfilling God’s law will certainly bring order to our world by sharing peace—the fruit of love—and replenishing the cardinal virtue of justice, thereby giving us harmony that promotes respect toward one another and for the common good. “See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all.” [1 Thessalonians 5:15]

Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us not separate ourselves from God. If we truly desire to change hearts and minds for the betterment of our society, let us come together in prayer. Let us demonstrate our love for God by sharing His love for each of us. These actions will foster change for good that is everlasting.

Heavenly Father, You give us your Commandments and you give us Your Son—your love made manifest—to show us how to live by your Commandments. Help each of us and our world to see that the fulfillment of Your Law brings peace and justice to all. Amen