Ez. 37:1-14 | Ps. 107:2-9 | Mt. 22:34-40

Jesus tells us today that the two greatest commandments consist of loving God with our entire being and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.  To love someone requires that we allow them to love us.  Love is not a one-way street.  There are two directions.  We must give and receive.  Many times we cannot allow ourselves to love ourselves.  If we cannot love ourselves, then we will not allow others to love us and that includes God.  No matter how much we have sinned, God loves us and stretches out God’s hand to us.  We can refuse to accept that love or we can open our lives to God and accept God’s love.  When we do this, we will be able to allow others to love us as well.  When we receive this love, we can go out to others in love and the circle goes on and on.

Today, God calls us to accept God’s love without any payment or dues.  Allow God’s love to enter you as God’s word spoken through Ezekiel goes into the bones and graves of the Israelites.  That love will raise you to new heights and will energize you to live this day with great joy, hope and love for others.