United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

Chapter 23. Life in Christ—Part One • 321

MEDITATION

Jesus Christ is the ultimate Teacher of morality. He indeed ratified the Ten Commandments, and he also pointed out that every Commandment in the Law and the Prophets is rooted in the two fundamental precepts of love of God and love of neighbor. Though the Old Testament also taught love of God and neighbor, the Lord’s precepts were new because he taught us the right measure of love, which includes the love of enemies. We are to love one another “as I have loved you,” that is, with a measure of love never seen before on earth. He taught by words and by his life that love essentially involves self-giving and self-sacrifice. We are never deliberately to do evil to anyone to achieve any objective whatsoever. May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever [and ever]. Amen. • Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you. —Zec 1:3 —Heb 13:20-21 PRAYER