Father, how can I love God?

The Priest’s Answer

Dearly beloved,

 
1. the Lord Himself has given us the answer, in John’s Gospel: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me” (John 14,21).
Further on He adds: “If a man love me, he will keep my words” (John 14,23).

2. Therefore, we love God if we observe the commandments and if we live according to the Gospel’s teachings. 

3. Furthermore, Jesus said in Matthew’s Gospel:  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness»” (Mt 7,21-23).

Therefore, talking about God, prophesying, performing miracles: none of these suffices in order to love God.

4. This is why Saint John writes: “Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” (1 John 2,4-6).

5. “Whoever claims to live in him”, in other words “whoever proclaims to be his friend” cannot but share a communion of intent with him.
It is a common trait amongst friends to be bound both by what they aim for and by what they reject.

This is always true.
And this goes especially and foremost in God’s case.

6. Even more practically, in order to love God, it is necessary to act upon the promises made during our Christening: “To renounce Satan and all his works (sin) and his seduction (temptations).’’
It is true that during our Christening, others made those promises on our behalf.
But after that there have been many occasions when we have freely renewed our baptismal promises, such as during our Holy Communion or our Confirmation.

7. And again: you love the Lord if, not only you observe His commandments, but you live your life according to the teaching of the Gospel, so that you feel that it is an honor for you to be with the Lord, to be tamed by Him, to be able to meet Him and receive Him in your heart. It follows that if you were not that bothered in doing this, and were rather lukewarm about sanctifying the Holy days by devoutly attending the Holy Mass, then this would mean that you do not in fact love the Lord.
Equally, should you not be mindful or eager to be regularly cleansed from your sins by the means of his Precious Blood via the Sacrament of Confession, this would mean that you do not care for the Lord, therefore you don’t love Him. 

So, these are the general criteria.
As I wish upon you to observe them eagerly, I bless you and keep you in my prayers.
Fr Angelo

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