In the post-Vatican II era the faculty at the seminary were up in the air about how they should be teaching the new ideas flowing from the Council. One memorable day Fr. Gilbert was the homilist at Mass and said, “You can love, love, love until the cows come home but you’ve still got to keep the commandments.” He did not articulate which commandments he had in mind. Of course, for Jesus THE commandment above all was precisely to love — to love God and neighbor. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments. St. Augustine put it famously that if you have true love you can do what you will. In popular culture love is hearts and flowers. In the gospel love leads to sacrifice, it leads to the cross. What makes the commandment to love possible is the foundational reality that we are loved, that God has loved us first, before we have done anything. All the love we are capable of is a response to God’s love for us.
