Despite how culture and even the Church can sometimes express it, the the Way of following Jesus is actually quite simple.

When Jesus was asked what was the most important commandment, this is how He responded:

Simply put, love expressed through complete devotion of all we are. Our heart, soul, and mind is a way of summarizing everything that makes you, you.

Your inner world, your outer world, your thoughts and actions.

How you speak to yourself, how you speak to others.

Your abilities, your desires, and your passions.

Our whole lives should be a demonstration of our love for God. This our response to His unconditional love for us.

We only know what love is because Jesus first loved us.

God initiated this relationship between us and him. He made the first more. 

He created us and called us good. Jesus looks at you and just loves you!

Much like we do with our families when we’re kids becoming adults, we go off and do our own things. We do what we think is best, and sometimes we make some glorious messes along the way!

Here’s where Jesus comes in, He sees those messes, He sees those mistakes, and He still says “I love you, I’m not ashamed of you.”

He doesn’t want distance from you, He wants you close.

No conditions, just daily grace and love.

Our response to God’s love for us, is to love Him back. With every part of who we are.

But wouldn’t it be a waste if that’s where our love stopped? Jesus thinks so.

The greatest commandment is to love God, and here’s the next part:

God’s unconditional love for you isn’t exclusive for you, it’s always for everybody. It’s not something you keep for yourself.

If you truly love God, you will learn to love other people. This may be the hardest part, because some people are really hard to love.

People are difficult, often annoying. Maybe you don’t agree with how they live their lives.

But it’s not our job to be the one who calls “offsides” or not. Our job is simply to show up.