Once when I was a seminarian, I had the opportunity to join Holy Week services in a town in the province. There was a procession that went around town. People were singing and praying the rosary. When the procession returned to the Church, the priest ended the activity with a prayer. Right after the prayer, the people suddenly went for the followers in the Carozas and all hell broke loose. Some were elbowing each other, some had to step on another person, some had to fight over the same flower. So I asked the question, “Why the commotion?” The response was they were going after the flowers because they were blessed.” From the view of an outsider though, one would think, “When did the flowers become more important than the people?”

In the Jewish tradition, to show one’s love for God, there are 613 commandments or laws. Humanly speaking, it is very hard to follow all these laws. Hence, the question, what is the most important of all the laws. The response of Christ, “Love of God and Love of neighbour as you love yourself”.

• First, Love Yourself. The best way to love oneself is to forgive. All of us get hurt, intentionally or unintentionally. And when this happens, the very first instinct is to go for revenge… but then the anger is there and can be a very deadly emotion. Hence, forgive not only seven times but seventy seven times.
• Second, Love Neighbour. The best way is to serve and share. When we make people part of our lives through sharing and service, we bless their lives and the blessing will surely come back.
• Third, Love of God. In the Gospel it says, with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength. In other words, love Him and love Him alone. Hence, the reflection, that we cannot have two masters. We are going to love one and despise the other. It cannot be God and mammon.

It is a sad reality that in the world that we live in, little by little, love for God, neighbour and self is being eradicated. Now if I choose my gender, hence I am making myself a god. Then if my neighbour does not love me or accept me, that person is judgmental, bigot and discriminatory. Then love of self is just equated with pleasure.

Hence, we go back to basics, we go back to the greatest commandments. Love of God, Love of neighbour as you Love yourself.