“Love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom 13:10).

These words conclude a large

section of the letter to the

Romans in which Saint Paul

presents the Christian life as a life of love for our

brothers and sisters.

This is, in fact, the new spiritual worship that a Christian is called to offer to God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who first elicits this

love in people’s hearts.

Summing up the content of this section, the apostle

states that love of neighbor helps us to fully and perfectly do the will of God contained in the

Law (that is, in his commandments). Love for our brothers and

sisters is the most beautiful, and the most authentic way to show

our love for God.

“Love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom 13:10).

But concretely speaking, what does this fullness and perfection consist in? One can understand it from the preceding verses, in which the

apostle describes the different manifestations and effects of this love.

First of all, real love of neighbor does no harm. It therefore makes us live all of God’s commandments, without excluding any, since their

first objective is to help us avoid any form of evil into which we could possibly fall, for ourselves or our brothers and sisters.

Besides not doing any evil, this love then urges us to accomplish all the good that our neighbor may need.

This Word encourages us to have a concrete love that is sensitive to the needs, hopes, and legitimate rights of our brothers and sisters; a love

which is respectful of human and Christian dignity; a love that is pure, understanding, able to share, and open to all, as Jesus has taught us.

This love is impossible if we are not ready to set

aside our individualistic and self-sufficient ways.

Therefore, living this Word helps us to

overcome those egoistic tendencies (pride, greed,

lust, ambition, vanity, etc.), that we have within us and which can be our major stumbling block.

“Love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom 13:10).

How then shall we live the Word of Life for December?

By keeping in mind the different demands of love of

neighbor that this Word calls us to meet.

In the first place, we shall avoid any kind of evil against

our neighbor.

We will pay close attention to God’s

commandments and how they apply to

our calling, our professional life and the environment in

which we live.

The first condition to live out Christian love is never to go against God’s

commandments. In addition, we will observe the very spirit, the motivation

and aim of all the commandments. Each one of them, as we have noted, wants to nurture a love in us that is increasingly

vigilant, ever more delicate and respectful, one that responds ever more concretely to the needs of our neighbors.

At the same time, we will develop a spirit of greater

detachment from ourselves,

overcoming our egoism, as a

consequence of living Christian

love.

This is how we can do the will of God “fully.” We will show him our love in the way which

is most pleasing to him.

“Love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom 13:10).

“One day, I reported to a company owner that his employees had not been paid their due wages

according to labor laws,” he stated. “After fourteen days of research, I had finally found the

documents that proved that he was not fully respecting labor laws. I asked Jesus for the

courage to remain faithful to his words which required me to be truthful, but also to be an

instrument of his love.

Here’s the experience of a lawyer who works for the

Ministry of Labor.

““The owner, faced with the evidence, defended himself stating that certain The owner, faced with the evidence, defended himself stating that certain laws seemed unjust to him. I then told him that our mistakes are not laws seemed unjust to him. I then told him that our mistakes are not

justified by the fact that others don’t comply with the rules. justified by the fact that others don’t comply with the rules. The conversation which ensued helped me to understand that he also had The conversation which ensued helped me to understand that he also had

my same desire for justice and equality, but had allowed himself to be my same desire for justice and equality, but had allowed himself to be influenced by his surroundings.influenced by his surroundings.

““In the end he said: ‘You could have humiliated and crushed In the end he said: ‘You could have humiliated and crushed me, but you didn’t do it. That’s why I now have the moral me, but you didn’t do it. That’s why I now have the moral

duty to begin anew.’ However, he had a pressing duty to begin anew.’ However, he had a pressing appointment then and there was no time to finalize a appointment then and there was no time to finalize a

violation report. So he took a blank piece of paper and violation report. So he took a blank piece of paper and signed it for me, proving that he was quite ready to change.”signed it for me, proving that he was quite ready to change.”

“Love is the fulfillment of the

law” (Rom 13:10).

“Word of Life,” monthly publication of the Focolare Movement.Text by Chiara Lubich

Graphics by Anna Lollo in collaboration with Fr. Placido D’Omina (Sicilia - Italia)