We hear it often in Scripture and throughout our lives: the greatest commandment—to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. In his First Letter, St. John tells us why: because God, who is perfect love, first loved us. Despite our weakness, failures, and repeated turning away, He continues to love us with a perfect, merciful love—offering us forgiveness and the grace to heal our hearts and minds.
Human beings are made in the image and likeness of God—that is, in the image of perfect love. When we love God and others, we live in harmony with our true identity and discover the peace and joy our hearts long for.
On this memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, the Church gives us a model of how to love. St. Bernard of Clairvaux highlights what each teaches us: Martha through generous service; Mary through contemplative prayer; Lazarus through penance and sacramental life. These three—service, prayer, and penance—form the foundation of a loving, intimate union with God. As St. Augustine writes, such a union “cleanses the eyes of our hearts to see God,” and empowers us to live each day in love.
Living in Love with God 
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