THE SUPREME LOVE

“Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter, more than Me is not worthy of Me.” –Matthew 10:37

The Church proclaims “the supremacy of the bond with Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1619). Our relationship with Jesus is in a class by itself. We are called to love Jesus much more than we love anyone else (see Mt 10:37). We must love Jesus so much that we lose our worldly lives, give our lives to Him, suffer in love for Him, take up our crosses daily in imitation of Him, and even die for Him (see Mt 10:37-38).

Because of the supremacy of our relationship with Jesus, those things we “used to consider gain” we “have now reappraised as loss” (Phil 3:7). We “have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of [our] Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:8). For love of Jesus, we have “forfeited everything” and “have accounted all else rubbish so that Christ may be” our Wealth (Phil 3:8).

Because of the supremacy of the relationship with the Lord, each Christian is privileged to say: “I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:19-20). We are supremely honored and loved in having the opportunity to “live no longer” for ourselves but for Him Who for our sakes “died and was raised up” (2 Cor 5:15).

Accept the invitation of the crucified and glorified Christ. Give your life totally to Him. Love Jesus supremely.

PRAYER: Sacred Heart of Jesus, as this month of the Sacred Heart ends, I consecrate my life to You. I am all Yours.
PROMISE: “The favors of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim Your faithfulness.” –Ps 89:2
PRAISE: Praise You, Jesus! You are “the Beginning, the First-Born of the dead” (see Col 1:18). Your Resurrection gives us hope.