As he dies for us sinners, Jesus makes known that God loves us very much.  That is, we are very dear in the eyes of God and of Jesus, of course. 

To love is not about us loving God.  Rather, it is about God loving us and sending his Son to atone for our sins.  That is, for all our sins, God does not deem us very cheap but very dear.  He welcomes us, in place of throwing us out.

We can say, then, that God hopes to draw out love, hence, he puts love where there is no love.  And that is why, if we love, it will be because God loves us first.

Yes, love calls for love in return.  This means we are to think of Christ and his love.  And about God’s great love, the pledge of which is Christ.  Hopefully, we will in this way rouse ourselves to love Christ, God.  To cherish the one who deems us very dear.

And Jesus embodies the God who gives up all so that we may be his as very dear treasures or pearls.  Jesus even gives up his body and sheds his blood for us, his very dear brothers and sisters.  God-Man, Jesus shows us how much God values us and how much we humans should value God

Lord Jesus, make ours also your two great virtues:  reverence toward the Father and charity toward humans (SV.EN VI:413).  We shall thus value God above all and deem very dear our brothers and sisters.  And grant us the wisdom, ever ancient, ever new, of your incarnation and your cross:  enter the world of the poor; speak boldly of the vision of the kingdom of God and his justice; walk the talk with those who are poor; trust in God who makes all things work for the good of those who love him.

26 July 2026
17th Sunday in O.T. (A)
1 Kngs 3, 5. 7-12; Rom 8, 28-30; Mt 13, 44-52