Love of Neighbor

The more we love and serve our neighbor out of love for God, the more God will reward us.

The true definition of love is to sacrifice for the good of the other. Our love for others comes from our love for God. To love God then is to love what he loves; to love God is love his children too. God has given us our neighbor as a means for us to show our love for him.

 God the Father explains to St. Catherine of Siena:

"I ask you to love me with the same love with which I love you. But for me you cannot do this, for I loved you without being loved. Whatever love you have for me you owe me, so you love me not gratuitously but out of duty, while I love you not out of duty but gratuitously. So you cannot give the kind of love I ask of you. This is why I have put you among your neighbors: so that you can do for them what you cannot do for me - that is, love them without any concern for thanks and without looking for any profit for yourself. And whatever you do for them I will consider done for me." 

Indeed, Jesus tells us, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for the least of my brethren you did for me (Mt 25:40)." 

In addition, we have been entrusted with many gifts to be used for the benefit of others and the glory of God. The more we use our gifts in this way, the more the Lord will grace us. This point is clearly illustrated in the parable of the talents, where a man going on a journey entrusted different amount of talents to his servants. The one who received five immediately went and traded with them and made five more. Likewise, with the one of received two. But the one who received one went and buried his master's money. When the master returned, he praised the two servants who used and multiplied their talents, and he gave them additional responsibilities and invited them to share in their master's joy. But the master was harsh with the one who buried his talent and took the one talent away from him and gave it to the one who with ten. "For to everyone who has more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away (Mt 25:29)." 

This parable reminds us to use our God given talents for the benefit of others and the glory of God. The more we use our gifts out of love for God and others, the more God will pour out his graces upon us. But if we just sit on our gifts and talents, and not use them the way God intended, then our graces will disappear.

Everyone should discern his or her charisms. A charism is a special grace that given to individuals for the building up of the Body of Christ. There are three indications of a possible charism: One, it is something that I do very well; two, I enjoy doing it; and three, others benefit from it. Then we should cultivate and practice our charism(s) for the building up of the Church. If it is truly a charism, then we will get even better at it and graces will multiply. But if we are lazy or selfish and do not use our charism, then it will slowly go away. We are meant to be channels of grace for others. Therefore, the more we participate in this vocation, the more we will be instruments of God's grace.

We should know that God cannot be outdone in generosity. Scripture tells us, "Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully (2 Cor 9:6)."

And also, "Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you (Lk 6:38)."  

The more generous we are with our time, talents and resources, the more we will receive. When I was an attorney, my income was a lot higher than it is as a priest. But back then I was rather stingy and found myself having enough just to pay my bills. As a priest, I am much more generous and have never experienced financial hardship. God will provide in proportion to our generosity and love for others.

Another aspect of love of neighbor involves not judging others and forgiving them. I have observed an irony: Often people who are trying to grow in holiness are the most critical of others. As we try to grow in virtue we tend to notice not only our own defects but the defects of others - their faults and limitations are especially glaring. With observation, often comes harsh judgment, which is a lack of charity. That is why Jesus reminds us, "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven (Lk 6:37)." 

We can judge when the action is clearly a sin, but at the same time not condemn the person. Instead, we should try to employ empathy, which is to understand that we are all fallen human beings prone to sin and faults. And that we do not know everything that is going on with that person exteriorly or interiorly - only God knows. Therefore, we try to identify with the person because we too have made poor choices and have hurt others and are in need of forgiveness.

St. Therese of Lisieux writes, "I understand now that charity consists in bearing with the faults of others; in not being surprised at their weaknesses; and in being edified by the smallest acts of virtue we see them practice."

Not only are we not surprised or judgmental at the faults of others, but we are happy for them when we see the good that is in them and in their actions. The more we try to practice acts of charity, including thinking well of others, the more the Lord will assist us by his grace so as to grow in love of neighbor.

We know that Mary was filled with love for her neighbor. Immediately after the Annunciation was the Visitation. Rather then thinking about herself and her comfort, Mary sacrificed herself and traveled in haste to the distant countryside to visit and to stay for three months to help her elder cousin Elizabeth. Mary sacrificed herself for the good of Elizabeth and for the glory of God.

Also, at the wedding at Cana, it was Mary who noticed that the wedding couple had run out of wine - a potentially humiliating and devastating problem, and seek to help the situation by bringing it to Jesus' attention. Mary is filled with charity for others because of her oneness with God. Mary's life is one of self-sacrifice for the good of others and the glory of God.

As Mary's children, we should take after our mother and try to imitate her virtues, including her love for neighbor. Let us use our gifts, time and other resources to build up the Kingdom of God on earth. Knowing that everything we do for others we do for Jesus himself. Scripture tells us and the saints confirm that at the end of this earthly life, we will be judged on our acts of charity. St. John of the Cross puts it this way: "In the evening of life, we will be judged on our love."

We are made to love, which is demonstrated through how we treat those around us. The more we love, the more charity is infused in our soul with sanctifying grace.