Study The Word Of God Daily! - Loving One Another

Loving One Another

Our Lord does not specify uselessly that the great commandments are two in number. For it is neither sufficient to love neighbor without loving God nor sufficient to love God without loving neighbor. In the first category we find those who do well to men but neglect what is owed to God. Wisely, then, does our Lord insist that love of God "is the greatest and the first commandment." (Matthew 22: 38) Similarly, in the Ten Commandments the duties to God are enumerated first. (read Exodus Chapter 20) And He expects us to observe all ten, not any lesser number at our Choice. (Please note: The making of images are forbidden! Not to be worshipped or "venerated"!) While these people of the first category are outsiders to the spiritual life, those of the second claim not to be. Yet in claiming to love God, they forget or neglect to love their neighbor, and thus they do a great disservice to the cause of God. With these it is not usually so much a hatred of neighbor as an obliviousness of him and his rights or needs. But of course this is a contradiction: "For how can he who does not love his brother, whom he sees, love God, whom he does not see?" (1 John 4: 20)
The Apostle John is intimating that their love is self-deception, self-love masquerading under a disguise that is often apparent to all except themselves. Our usually gentle Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is even more stern. In His parable-description of the last judgment, He speaks terrifying words to those on His left hand: "Depart from me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire." (Matthew 25: 41)
And the reason for this eternal rejection is a lack of practical love. "As long as you did not do it for one of these least ones, you did not do it for me." (Verse 45) Truly then, love of neighbor is not merely a praiseworthy thing to have, but a serious command to be obeyed! When I was an active member until 1998 of The St. Vincent de Paul Society, The following letter was given out: " INCREASING NEED FOR ASSISTANCE:
"St. Vincent de Paul Conferences often find that they are unable to meet the demands for food as regularly as people call. Many Conferences have limited the number of times people can come for food assistance because they cannot afford to supplement budgets on a regular basis. This does not mean that people do not have a need for food. There are very limited alternatives in the community once a family visits the food bank, and St. Vincent de Paul for help. There are those families who mismanage their funds, but the larger problem is that families on social assistance do not receive enough income to provide for their basic needs. People on assitance receive monies based on a budget that includes shelter costs; food; clothing; personal; transportation; phone {if deemed a necessity} There is also a partial payment of drugs (80%). The amount allotted for each category is usually below actual costs and do not take into account other normal monthly expenditures such as laundry, haircuts, etc.
We are instruments of Christ. We serve in his name. But we are also very human, with all our human weaknesses, like our need for feeling appreciated. It is not our only reason we serve. If it were,there would be no one left to volunteer in this society. But it can't be discounted as having no value. How many of us can relate a pleasant story of serving when people have been appreciative. Those stories are uplifting. They fill us with energy and love! This gives us the ability to carry on in our service. The difficult ones make the going a bit harder.
Charity is done in love and requires energy. We serve in the name of Christ. we are his instuments. It is a joy to serve the poor when they are appreciative. When we help a demanding person whose eyes don't light up with pleasure from receiving our help, we may feel we have provided needed help, but we do not leave that house feeling the same way we do from some who express pleasure at our coming. The difficult person being helped takes some energy away from us. If we serve enough of these people, we feel exhausted.
We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so we try not to put obstacles in anyone's way. Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God's servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties. By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God's servants- by the Holy Spirit, by our true love, by our message of truth, and by the power of God. (2 Corinthians 6: 3-4, 6).

The above is a discription of the manner in which Vincentions act in the discharge of their charitable works. How does one retain the ability to patiently endure?
The following strategy has been developed to assist with the following:
1. a recurring difficalty with a client; 2. a Parish priest who offers little support to our conference; 3. a problem which develops within the conference/council. Additionally, their are other situations for which this strategy can be applied."
You can readily see that Catholic charities are also struggling to meet the need for assistance in Ontario, Canada. The social assistance mentioned above however does not exist in the Philippines! The situation of the poor and inmates of prisons are much worse! God in many ways uses people to reach out to the destitude and needy in our largely selfish and unjust world you and I live in. That is one of the main reason, we in this ministry are reaching out world-wide through the Internet for financial help, along with the need for Bibles, new or used. Concentrate deeply on all of the above and help us in every each way at your disposal. Be it used clothes, shoes, slippers, and especially financial help. It will be used wisely, and fill the heart with joy, and hope for those in need! God Bless!
- Rev. Daniel N. Dhaene Sr

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