“You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.” We are all very much aware of this First Commandment, and as children of God, we strive to abide by this throughout our lifetime. If we truly obey this commandment, wouldn’t it seem impossible for us to sin? When we set ourselves aside and set God first and foremost, we shift the focus to a beautiful perspective of love for all He created. We must give God all the glory and place Him above all, and deliver this message to the world. Can we imagine a world where all humanity believed in and truly loved God above all things?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is calling us to a life of faith. We believe what Jesus taught us; however, it is in many of life’s trials and tribulations that our faith becomes challenged and weakened. Is God truly with us when our loved one is critically ill? Is God with those who hunger or are homeless? Is God at the table when world leaders attempt to negotiate peace futilely? Jesus tells us that with faith, we can move mountains. With faith, we can trust that the Lord will see us through. If we trust and faithfully follow the path our Lord sets before us, we too can move mountains. We can climb that mountain with Jesus leading the way, overcoming evil through the love and hope of our Father.

Let us praise the Lord and give thanks, for God is our savior! Let us pray that we have the strength and courage to bring others to Him through our acts of kindness and generosity. Let us see His face in the eyes of all humanity and share his love, peace, and compassion.

Prayer:

My Lord and My God. Thank you for the gift of my life and for all the blessings you have bestowed upon me throughout my life. With all my heart, soul, and strength, I love you. Forgive me for the times I have faltered through my human weakness, for the times my faith has weakened, and for those times when I have failed to follow the path you have set before me. Blessed are you, my Lord and my God. Amen.