Thirty-Third Monday in Ordinary Time

I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first.

We can do everything right in our lives, but if we do them without love, then we will have much to answer for on the Day of Judgment. Just because we keep the commandments doesn't make us sinless. Just because we suffer for God or others and cannot tolerate the wicked doesn't mean we ourselves are pure of heart. We can do all the right things for all the wrong reasons. We can be tripped up by self-righteous pride. Our good words and works might be tainted by selfish interests and a lack of love. We can be faithful and hopeful, but without love our faith and hope are empty and meaningless. When we let our love of self or of worldly things overrule our love of God and neighbor, we fail to live up to our callings as Christians. It is only when we do what is right out of love that we gain any merit. Our hearts need to be in the right place so our thoughts, words, and works will be good, faithful, and fruitful.

Is love at the heart of our every action? How can we make love of God and others more central to all our decisions? How can we rid ourselves of all those selfish inclinations that interfere with what is right and good?

O Lord, we repent for our failure to love properly and pray that you will give us loving hearts.

Amen.