A Dozen Ways to Love Your Neighbor: Autumn Edition

 

“One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked Him, ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’ Jesus replied, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these.’” –Mark 12:28-31

A DOZEN WAYS TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR: AUTUMN EDITION

Below are some simple suggestions. I’m sure you’ve done many of them already and could add your own ideas based on your particular circumstances. If you’re looking for organizations that need volunteers, a good place to start might be to google ‘volunteer opportunities near me.’ Even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference for someone else!

As you switch out the seasonal clothes in your closet, pick out a few nice items you haven’t worn in a while and donate them to a local charity.

If you ever have unopened food in your fridge or pantry that you know you won’t use by the ‘use by’ date, offer it to your neighbors or a soup kitchen.

When buying school supplies for your child, purchase something extra and take it to the school office for any child who may need it, or purchase a gift card for your child’s teacher.

Rake the leaves for an elderly neighbor.

Surprise a friend you haven’t seen in a long time with a phone call, text, or email, or mail them a Thanksgiving greeting card.

Obey speed limits in school zones; stop for school busses when their lights are flashing.

Send your child’s teacher a note of appreciation mid-semester; include a gift card to a local small business or a homemade treat.

Offer to volunteer at your child’s school.

If you like to knit or crochet, you may want to make hats for newborns or scarves for veterans. Contact your local hospital or the VA to find out what they can use.

Purchase a gift card to a local small-business bakery and take it to the fire station.

Donate hats, gloves, or socks to a school or shelter; include a bag of Halloween candy.

If you know of a college student who can’t travel home for Thanksgiving, or anyone else who will be alone on the holiday, invite them to join you for dinner.

 “Lord, help me look for ways to love my neighbor.”

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Suffering and Miracles

 Our friend Len shouldn’t be alive today. An active man now at age 70, he’ll tell you that 45 years ago he had a near-death experience, and 15 years ago was told he had maybe 18 months to live. Len was in so much pain that he asked God to let him die. That’s when someone suggested he see an MD in Cleveland with a reputation for treating -- and healing -- terminal cases like his. Len met with this physician, Dr. Issam Nemeh; what happened next shocked and baffled his doctors. 

The Bible is full of stories of people being cured of physical and mental ailments. Many, like the blind man Bartimaeus, were persistent in asking Jesus to heal them (see Mark 10:46-52). Even today, we hear of people being healed miraculously, outside of medical explanation. We may wonder why God allows suffering in the first place, and why some people recover and not others, with medicine or without.

 One way to look at this is to ask, “Why do athletes endure brutal practice sessions?” They suffer to reach their goal: winning. Yet not everyone wins, even if they practice.

 Our ultimate goal isn’t to live on earth forever. Our ‘winning’ is living in perfect Love, which is eternal life with God. Our earthly sufferings can help us reach that goal. Yes, illness and other difficulties cause us great pain and distress. When we ask God to take away our pain or use it for some kind of good, or when we ask Him for the grace and wisdom to get through a particular hardship, these humble prayers acknowledge His power and move us toward Him. Whether or not we’re healed, or if our prayer is answered in a way different from what we had hoped, we have brought ourselves closer to God. When others care for us in our illness, or support us in our difficulties, they become more like Him; they show us His love. All of this can bring all of us closer to Him. That’s our goal. 

 Our sufferings can help us know that God is with us always; He is alive, loving, and powerful.

 Len was healed immediately. Dr. Nemeh stresses that it’s God, not him, Who does the healing.  You can listen to Len and Dr. Nemeh tell their story to the radio personality you may know as ‘Trapper Jack’ on this link:

https://blindfaithlive.com/the-miracle-story-of-leonard-debenedictis-blind-faith-live-episode-19/#sthash.zQDNiuAJ.dpbs

 

“Lord, remind me to turn to You when I’m suffering.”

 

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We Have Only Today

“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” ― Stephen Grellet

 All day, every day, we’re faced with hundreds of choices. Many of these seem small and insignificant, yet each choice leads to the next, which leads to the next. Our lives and the lives of the people around us are shaped by the ripple effect of our choices.

 As Christians, we’re called to be deliberate in choosing God’s way of loving and serving our neighbors over our self-serving ways. This isn’t a one-time decision but a choice we make over and over again each day. Remembering this helps us stay tuned in to what He wants, puts us in an ‘other-centered’ frame of mind, and affects everything we think about, say, and do. Even if our efforts go unnoticed or unappreciated, and even though we may never know the results of our good deeds, our task is the same. Loving and serving others is how we bring heaven to earth.

 Sometimes, though, we choose our own way. In our mistaken belief that serving ourselves will make us happy, we do or say things that hurt others. So what do we do after we mess up? How do we get past the guilt of “Why did I do that?” or “Why did I say that?” This is when we turn to God and ask for His forgiveness (and maybe the forgiveness of another person). God loves us and will welcome us back with open arms, just as the father welcomed home his prodigal son (see Luke 15:11-32). Turn back to God, and then start again with the next good choice.

 We have only today. Maybe today will be our last day, and maybe we’ll have thousands more days, but this day will never come again. Let’s remember that each choice leads to another. Let our goal be to look back on our day and see a trail of more goodness and holiness than sin and selfishness. Let’s work to build the kingdom of God here on earth, one loving choice at a time.

 “Show me Your ways, Lord; teach me Your paths.” –Psalm 25:4

 

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Give Yourself a Break

 

Parents know the value of giving their child a ‘time out’ when the child is overwhelmed. Jesus shows that it’s important for us to take breaks, too.

 In Matthew chapter 14, Jesus learns that Herod has beheaded John the Baptist. Jesus wants to be alone to grieve but the people find out where He is:  “As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:13-14).

 And then, after preaching and healing all day, Jesus miraculously feeds thousands of people with only a few loaves of bread and a couple fish. The next verses tell us about His need for a ‘time out’:  “Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone” (Matthew 14:22-23).

 “Jesus insisted...” He made them go without Him; He wanted to be alone. He likely felt drained, and ached to talk to the Father about John’s death. He had wanted to get away since He first heard about John and knew this was a good time to go.  

 “Jesus insisted…”  Jesus undoubtedly wanted to thank His Father for giving Him the power and stamina to preach, heal, and feed the multitudes. He also needed to let the Father ‘recharge’ Him and had to be by Himself for this to happen.  

 “Jesus insisted…” Jesus knew He needed a break and insisted on taking it. We, too, have to make it a priority to take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. That’s not being selfish; that’s preserving the precious YOU God created! It’s important to ‘get away’ to God when you’re exhausted or hurting or even celebrating. Look for – or create -- little breaks in your day to turn to Him. Talk to Him about whatever’s on your mind and pay attention to what thoughts come back to you. Stop to thank Him for loving you. ‘Getting away’ to God is only impossible if you decide that it is. If you have small children, maybe the only time you have by yourself is while brushing your teeth. Stop brushing a moment, thank God for those children, and let Him refresh you -- for them.

 God loves you! Insist on ‘getting away’ to Him. Let Him recharge you.

 “Be still, and know that I am God.” --Psalm 46:10

 

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God Doesn't Give Up

 

Imagine driving across the country on a highway with no roadblocks, no detours, and even no attractive exits along the way. Imagine nothing but a straight path, free of challenges and anything that would distract you from reaching your destination.

Sometimes we want life to be like that: we want God to make our journey easy. He knows better than we do, though, and in His wisdom He lets us choose which routes to follow and which exits to take. Over the past 10, 30 or 50 years you probably chose routes that brought you closer to Him and maybe took exits that led you far away from Him. You may even be lost right now. No matter where you are, God sees your potential. He invites you to turn toward Him and let Him pour His grace on you. He will never give up on you because He knows you’re still on your journey.   

Imagine what would have happened if Jesus had said to Zacchaeus, “You’re a liar and a cheat. I doubt anyone would hire you, but go get a decent job and then come back. Maybe I’ll let you hang out with Me.” Instead, Jesus first loved him. He saw the longing in his heart and offered him an opportunity to follow Him. The love and peace that radiated from Jesus caused Zacchaeus to quit his job on the spot, take Jesus up on His invitation, and offer to pay back fourfold anyone he had cheated. Jesus loved him despite his dishonest work and then Zacchaeus turned his life around.

God does the same with us. He doesn’t say, “Get your act together and then I’ll love you.” Instead, He loves us first. He loves us now. He knows we have the potential to become more like Him and never gives up on us. He gives us opportunities to turn toward Him through our circumstances, the people we encounter, and the sacraments. He continually invites us to follow His way of gentleness, kindness, compassion, and patience which will bring us the joy we so desperately long for.

God offers His love and mercy to us no matter where we are. In turn, we’re called to offer these to our ‘travel companions’ and invite them to follow Him. We don’t know all the roadblocks they’ve encountered, and maybe they’ve taken exits we’re unfamiliar with. That’s not our business. What matters is that we’re all on this journey together and, as He won’t give up on us, we can’t give up on each other. Let’s ask God to guide all of us on our journey and lead us closer to Him.

 “Lord, thank You for not giving up on me.”

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Reasons to Hope

 

There’s more to love about autumn than the glowing Harvest Moon and maple leaves painting the landscape with reds and yellows. Autumn’s charm lies in its unique aura, a combination of contentment with the present, optimism for the future, and nostalgia for the past. We say goodbye to another short summer; we enjoy just-picked tomatoes and sweet corn; and we plant bulbs for next spring, and remember the ‘new beginning’ feeling with another school year starting. This looking-back-and-looking-ahead may stir in us some wonder about what’s in store for us as we near the end of another calendar year. The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that our future is in God’s hands:

“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future filled with hope.” –Jeremiah 29:11

Maybe you’re an educator or a student and you’ve embarked on a new school year. God has plans for you to flourish. Take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves!

Maybe you’re looking for work or have recently changed jobs. God has plans for you to succeed with the particular talents He’s given you.

Maybe you’re dealing with health challenges, relationship difficulties, or some other burden. God has plans for you: These challenges may lead you to greater strength, insight, or holiness. Ask Him to wrap His peace around you and help you carry this cross.

Maybe nothing significant has changed for you recently and you’re left wondering if there’s anything good coming out of this monotony. God has plans for you, too. He’s your constant companion in your routine; your good work today will reap rewards later.

The Lord wants us to trust Him and His plans. Imagine Him saying to you, ‘You will thrive and prosper, and live in peace, if you strive to follow Me. You will work and you will speak, and some people will appreciate you and listen to you, and others will not. This is how it was with the prophets and with Me, so why should it be any different with you? Continue in your work. Do not lose heart. Do not get discouraged by any of your challenges. Do not abandon your work or give up just because you don’t see results. I am working in hearts; I am working where you cannot see. If you give up, then you give up on Me and I won’t be able to accomplish what I mean to accomplish through you. Persistence and cheerfulness will pay off.’

Our God, Who ordered the seasons of nature, has great plans for you! YOU are precious to Him!

 “Lord, I trust that my life has purpose. Because of You, I will look ahead with hope.”

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Look for the Back Seat

 

Mother Teresa instructed her Sisters to always take the back seat on a bus or train. In her wisdom, she knew that the practice of choosing the least desirable location would help keep herself and her Sisters humble. Sometimes a person in authority, seeing Mother Teresa sitting in the back, would invite her to sit up front, and she would follow him to the front with gratitude. Some critics would say, “That’s the same as taking the front seat to begin with!” But it’s not: By taking the back seat, she took the chance that that’s where she’d stay. It required humility to deliberately choose the lowest place and be content to stay there. It also gave the person in authority an opportunity to offer a kind gesture, which she graciously accepted.

 “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” – Mark 9:35

Being humble doesn’t mean you think you’re worthless. It’s thinking less about yourself, not thinking less of yourself. YOU are a beloved child of God with gifts and talents and, yes, weaknesses that make you uniquely equipped to serve Him in the people around you. In this verse, putting yourself last doesn’t mean putting yourself down. Rather, putting others ahead of you builds them up and helps them see how precious and beloved they are, too. Imagine our world if we all did that!

If you’re a person with power, you can still be humble. In the Gospel of Luke, the centurion’s slave was dying (see Luke 7:1-10). At first, this Roman military officer sent messengers to Jesus, asking Him to come to his house and heal his servant. Then, while Jesus was on His way there, the centurion changed his mind and sent more messengers to tell Him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof… but say the word and let my servant be healed.” Maybe at first he wanted to experience what others had seen -- Jesus performing a healing. Soon after, though, he was willing to ‘take the back seat.’ He abandoned the opportunity to witness a miracle and, instead, asked Jesus to heal his servant from a distance, maybe so he’d be healed sooner. The centurion put his servant ahead of himself by acknowledging the power of Christ and dismissing what he could gain from the encounter.

This week, take a lesson from Mother Teresa and the centurion. Look for ways to put yourself in the back seat and put others ahead of you, not in ways that put you down but in ways that pick them up.

“Lord, help me to see how I can lift up the people around me.”

If you enjoy reading these reflections, please tell your friends! Through this blog, I hope to inspire you to ponder a given topic and then seek deeper answers through prayer, additional spiritual reading, and/or consultation with clergy or other persons who may guide you to a deeper faith and understanding of God’s love and will for your life.