Sunday’s Gospel reading, Matthew 22:34-40, included words often quoted but only sometimes remembered and followed. When asked about the number one commandment, Jesus answered that it was all about love: for God, for our neighbor, and for ourselves. We sometimes forget that last part, but yes, we are to love ourselves. We can’t love another just the way we love ourselves if we don’t first love ourselves. Sometimes we need to work on this and learn to accept and love ourselves.
Other times, we need to work on loving our neighbor. Matthew doesn’t say who our neighbors are, but in today’s first reading, Exodus 22:20-26, the people were told to be good to those who were poor and had lost status in the community because of their circumstances. And in Luke 10:26-33, Jesus answers the question about who qualifies as a neighbor by telling the story of the good deeds of the Samaritan, someone the Hebrew people would have despised. Beyond that, Jesus explains how the people are to treat strangers, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the ill, and people in prison in Matthew 25:35-40. Because the Hebrews already lived in close family-community relationships, it seems Jesus was telling the people of his time, and now us, that our neighbors include everyone. Of interest, according to Chabad.org, the meaning of loving doesn’t mean romantic love or even feelings. Instead, the root word in Hebrew refers to actions, behavior, as in Matthew 25. So, we could say that no, we don’t necessarily have to like everyone to love them!