Living Out the Great Commandment

Living out the great commandment reminds us that real love begins with God—and overflows into every relationship we have.

“‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ […] ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ […] ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”—Matthew 22:36–40

Love and romance. It’s an obsession for both women and men, and throughout human history it has been the inspiration for songs, poems, and acts of kindness. It seems appropriate to set aside one day a year to focus on love.

In pagan Rome, a festival was held every February 15, filled with fertility rites and other revelry. After Christianity became Rome’s official religion, the church wanted to retain the spirit of love and celebration that was part of that festival, but they sought to replace the pagan traditions with Christian symbols and attributes. So the day was renamed and moved one day earlier to February 14.

History tells us the first official day celebrating love and romance took place in AD 496 when Pope Gelasius declared that February 14 would become Valentine’s Day. Who was this Valentine? No one is quite sure. Many think he was a Christian who was martyred by Emperor Claudius II in the third century AD.

On this day, we remember not just romance, but the greatest love of all: the love God showed when He sent Jesus to die for us. In contrast with human love, God offers us a supernatural love that “never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Remember that God is the true source of love. Our love is possible only “because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We owe everything to Him. Give Him your heart today.

Reflection Question: How can you reflect God’s love more fully in your daily life?