You Shall Love…
There is a beautiful story about Mother Teresa of Calcutta. One day, as she was gently cleaning the wounds of a dying man on the streets of Calcutta, a visitor remarked, “I wouldn't do that for a million dollars!” Mother Teresa smiled and replied, “Neither would I!”
What a powerful response! She was not serving that suffering man for money, recognition, or reward. She was doing it out of love. In him, she recognized the face of Jesus.
This is the heart of this Sunday's Gospel. Love of God and love of neighbor are inseparable. We cannot genuinely love God while remaining indifferent to the needs and sufferings of those around us. In our first reading this Sunday, God reminds the Israelites to care for strangers, widows, orphans, and the vulnerable. In the second reading, St. Paul praises the Thessalonians because their faith had become a living example to others. Their faith was not merely something they professed; it was something they practiced.
And what about us? We come to church, celebrate the Eucharist, and express our love for God through prayer and worship. These are beautiful and essential parts of our Christian life. But perhaps the more challenging question is: What happens to our love for God when we leave the church after the mass?
How patiently do we listen to our spouse or children? How kindly do we speak to someone who disagrees with us? Do we notice the elderly neighbor who feels forgotten, the struggling family that needs encouragement, or the person who simply longs to be heard? Sometimes, the greatest challenge of Christian discipleship is not loving God in church, but loving the difficult person in our everyday lives!
St. Francis de Sales reminds us that holiness is found not only in extraordinary sacrifices but also in the little virtues of patience, gentleness, humility, forgiveness, and kindness. Small acts performed with great love can transform ordinary moments into encounters with God.
Perhaps this week, God is not asking us to accomplish something extraordinary. Perhaps He is inviting us to make a phone call to someone who is lonely, forgive someone who has hurt us, spend meaningful time with our family, or offer a kind word to someone who is struggling. Such gestures may seem small, but in God's eyes, they are precious. The beauty of the Eucharist is that Jesus does not simply command us to love; He first loves us, nourishes us with His own Body and Blood, and gives us the strength to love others.
As we leave the church, may we carry the love we receive at the altar into our homes, workplaces, and communities. For the greatest proof of our love for God is not merely what we say to Him in prayer, but how we treat His children in everyday life.
May our love for God become visible in our love for one another.
Written by: Fr. Shaju
Want to prepare your heart and mind for Mass this weekend? Click here to find the readings for this Sunday's Mass.
