30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In Exodus, we read that the people were told not to oppress or molest an alien. Alien is defined as “any living thing from another planet, or a person who lives in a foreign country and is not a citizen.” The reading condemns examples of oppression and molestation.
The Gospel tells us that Jesus refers to all people intimately, calling them “neighbor.” Let’s focus on the Second Commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Earlier Scripture describes various ways of violating this commandment; however, Jesus always calls us to more action. He calls us to commit to placing ourselves in our neighbor’s hearts, minds, and needs. We must internally feel their pain, their suffering, their fear, their loneliness. Then we must reach out to Jesus for His unending love and assistance. When we look into the eyes of our neighbor and visualize their heart, we experience what they experience and can love them as we love ourselves.
The Eucharist powerfully enables us to love our neighbor through His Body and Blood within us, extending His love not only for ourselves, but to our neighbor. Sometimes, we must remove a block if we have been hurt. Jesus forgave sin, and He forgives the sinner. To love, we must forgive.
As a country, we have the great gift of freedom in a world where freedom is non-existent in many countries. Let us give thanks for our ancestors who came here and worked so hard that we could experience a free life. May God guide our country to finding the best way to welcome those who seek refuge. “Give me your tired, your poor …”
Let us go forth this day committed to truly loving each neighbor we may encounter!
Prayer:
Loving Father, with all my resolve, I love you, Lord, my strength, my salvation, my stronghold. Walk through me today with my eyes wide open to seeing all my neighbors as you see them. Open and extend my heart, my eyes, my mind, and my hands, that I may be a beacon of your love to all. Amen.
