Jesus makes it simple: everything comes back to love. Do you want to know peace on earth? Love God and love your neighbor. Do you want to know happiness and joy? Love God and love your neighbor. Do you want to know the meaning of life? Love God and love your neighbor.
Jesus shows us three ways to love: he was present, he shared who he was, and he was inclusive. We can make ourselves present to God by spending time with him in prayer. We can share who we are with God by being honest with him—God wants an authentic relationship with us. We can invite others to share in God’s mercy by being merciful ourselves.
These two questions can help you live the commandments: Are you present to others, without exception? Are you generous in the way you share yourself with them? Reflect on them daily.
—Bob Burnham, OFS, a Secular Franciscan and spiritual director, writes and edits for Loyola Press in Chicago.