Dear Parishioners,
The first reading instructs us to treat the poor and powerless, the widow and orphan, and the immigrant with compassion because God is compassionate.
In the Gospel, Jesus brings the old testament to fulfilment as he answers the question, What is the Greatest Commandment? Jesus replies, the greatest and the first commandment is: "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." And "The second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself."
There was nothing new from these commandments as the first is from Deuteronomy and the second is from Leviticus. However, Jesus is the first one to link the two together. He is also the first to say all of the teachings of the Law and the Prophet hang on these two commandments. He is also the first to define neighbour as everyone else.
C.S. Lewis wrote that "Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained."
These two commandments are intimately connected. We need God to love our neighbour because someday it can be really challenging. Furthermore, there is no authentic love of God without a genuine love of Neighbour.
Let us first respond to God's compassionate love for each of us by Loving God with our total being and then ask for the grace to love our neighbours as Jesus has loved us.
This Sunday's Mass is now available on the St. Faustina Parish Youtube Channel. The Responses for the Mass and the Lyrics for the Music are available by clicking on the links.
Thank you to everyone who has stepped forward to offer physical, spiritual and financial support to our parish. As a community, we are truly blessed.
Let us continue to pray for each other and with each other as we build up the Kingdom of God.
I keep you and your families in my prayers.
May God bless you.
Fr. Gerard Monaghan
