Monday 3^rd November – Monday of week 31 of the year

Reflection: Luke 14:12-14

LOVE: THE CALL TO CHARITY

“Love” is often used to describe a variety of feelings, states, and attitudes that range from interpersonal affection to pleasure. It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection – the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another. In the context of Christianity, the divine love (Agape) is self-emptying. Love is a theological virtue, for it endures forever and it is the greatest of all virtue (1 Corinthians 13:8).

The word ‘Love’ is one of the most commonly used words in our society today, however, the word is often used without a deep reflection on its true meaning. The Apostle Paul tells us what Love entails:

“Love is patient, kind, without envy. It is not boastful or arrogant. It is not ill-mannered nor does it seek its own interest. Love overcomes anger and forgets offences. It does not take delight in wrong, but rejoices in truth. Love excuses everything, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things”. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Jesus tells us today to extend our helping hands and our gifts outside the confines of our friends and relatives. He asks us to reach out to the sick, prisoners, homeless, poor and to any one in need of our help. In doing this, we seek not our own interests alone but those of others, irrespective of who they are. As Jesus told the teacher of the Law in Luke 10:25-37; ‘Our neighbour is anyone in need of our help’. The call to charity requires us to love them and seek their own good in all things.

Dear friends, our Christian calling is to be like God. God is love and all His children are called to love. Thus, we must daily yield to the demands of love. We must learn to be patient, bear the faults of others patiently and consider the good of others in all we do.

PRAYER: Lord, God of love, please teach me to love as you have loved me. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 1825 – …The Lord asks us to love as he does, even our enemies, to make ourselves the neighbour of those farthest away, and to love children and the poor as Christ himself.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Love cannot do the neighbour any harm; so fulfils the whole law.” Romans 13:10 CCB

Readings for Today: Philippians 2:1-4; Psalm 131:1-3; Luke 14:12-14