LOVE IS NOT WEAKNESS - LOVE IS STRENGTH!
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Mt. 22:34-40).
When I reflect on Matthew 22:34–40, I realize Jesus’ command to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves, goes beyond the Golden Rule. The true test of love comes when we have been hurt, disappointed, betrayed, or treated unfairly.
Throughout my life, I have witnessed tragedy, bloodshed, neighborhood disparities, and discrimination. Yet I have also seen people refuse to let their circumstances define them. Their faith, character, courage, and love helped them overcome obstacles and inspire others.
One of my greatest concerns is the violence and loss of life within our own communities. I grew up facing many of the same challenges young people face today. I understand their environments, pressures, and obstacles. Still, I ask myself: What are we missing? How can we help our young people discover a different path before violence becomes their response to pain, conflict, or disappointment?
I have witnessed godly people stand against powerful systems and seemingly impossible odds. They may not have possessed wealth, status, or influence, but they demonstrated perseverance, faith, and service. They taught me that true strength is not measured by power, but by our willingness to stand for what is right without becoming what we oppose.
This reminds me of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who demonstrated that love is not weakness. We can fight injustice without becoming consumed by hatred. We can stand firmly for justice while preserving our humanity.
What if we instilled this message in our children before they entered schools, athletic fields, and team environments? What if parents, churches, teachers, coaches, mentors, and community leaders consistently reinforced one truth: God is love, and love can counter hate?
Talent, education, discipline, athletics, and achievement matter, but none can replace character, compassion, accountability, and respect for human life. Before teaching young people how to compete and succeed, we must teach them to value themselves and others.
Disagreements, rejection, disrespect, and injustice are inevitable. The question is: What foundation have we given our young people to stand on when these challenges arise?
Matthew 22 provides that foundation: love God and love your neighbor. This message cannot remain confined to Sunday mornings. It must live in our homes, schools, churches, workplaces, and communities. We must demonstrate love, not simply quote it.
Sometimes loving our neighbor means forgiveness. Sometimes it means compassion or establishing boundaries without hatred. And sometimes it means choosing not to retaliate when retaliation seems easiest.
Loving others does not mean ignoring injustice or remaining silent when something is wrong. It means confronting wrongdoing without allowing hatred to define us. We must interrupt the cycle of violence and teach our children that pain does not have to become their purpose, anger does not have to become their identity, and circumstances do not have to determine their destiny.
Looking back, I recognize that the people who influenced me most demonstrated love, faith, perseverance, and service. They encouraged others and helped move entire communities forward. Their examples remind me that love can change lives and alter the trajectory of a community.
After everything I have witnessed and experienced, I keep returning to one truth: God is love. He is the ultimate decision-maker and the Waymaker, creating possibilities when we cannot see a way forward.
Our challenge is simple, but not easy: Love God. Love your neighbor. Stand for justice. Raise our children with a strong foundation. Interrupt violence. And when life gives us every reason to choose hate, choose love anyway.
Love is not a weakness. Love is a strength. Faith gives us courage, and with God, there is always another way.
Author: Rob Harris was born and raised in Cincinnati’s West End. A Withrow High School graduate, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Wittenberg University, where he was an all-conference football player, and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management.
With over 18 years of banking experience, Rob specializes in retail bank management, strategic planning, and community engagement. An active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, he is passionate about youth development, education, and service.
His leadership includes serving as President of One Family, One Love Community Organization; Grand Knight of Knights of Peter Claver Council 363; and former President/Coach of West End Lil Senators Football & Cheer. He has also served as a Ward 7-G Precinct Executive, Carl Lindner YMCA Program Chair, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.’s Go-To-High-School, Go-To-College Program Advisor, and Youth Hope Cincinnati Board member.
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