Dave's Diary

We continue to reflect on why we are commanded to love our neighbours as we love ourselves.

Prayer before Reading:

Before you read, pray this simple prayer inspired by Psalm 119:102-104

LORD, teach me Your ways and nourish my soul with the richness of Your Word. Grant me the grace to understand Your will and to delight in doing it. Amen.

Now spend a moment quietly getting focused on the Lord’s presence before you read.

Daily Reading

Matthew 25:31-40

In the parable, Jesus’ puts these profound words on the lips of the King (who represents Him):

⁴⁰ ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

To be faithful to the parable I must point out that Jesus was probably talking more about loving our fellow believers than about loving our neighbours in general. But Jesus’ was very clear throughout His ministry that we are commanded to love our neighbours liberally, and I sincerely believe that He wants us to understand that loving them in their times of need is a means of expressing our love for Him.

The great missionary nun, Mother Theresa said this:

“I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself; this is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene; I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus”.

When we battle to love our fellow human beings through acts of kindness, generosity and grace, could there be any greater motivation to love them than to consider what we would do for them in their time of need if they were, in fact, Jesus Himself.

Contemplation:

Please take time to ponder this truth. Turn one or more of these statements over and over in your mind:

• My neighbour in need is loved by Christ.
• Christ identifies Himself with those in need.
• I have the opportunity to love Christ himself by loving them.
• How can I love Christ well by caring for them today?

Holy Spirit, please help me to sense how I can love Christ through loving others today. Amen.