WORD ALIVE

Once there was an elderly monk who prayed many years for a vision to strengthen his faith, but it never came. He had almost given up hope when, one day, a vision of Jesus appeared. The monk was overjoyed.
 

But then, right in the middle of the apparition, the monastery bell rang, which meant it was time to feed the poor who gathered daily at the gate.
 

It was the elderly monk’s turn to feed them.
 

* * *
He was torn between staying and leaving the heavenly vision. With a heavy heart, he turned his back on the vision and went off to feed the poor.
After an hour, he returned to his room, and to his surprise, the apparition of the Lord was still there, waiting for him. As the monk dropped to his knees, the vision said to him, “My son, if you did not go to feed the poor, I would not have stayed.”
 

* * *
The story illustrates the message in this 30th Sunday in Ordinary time which combines the love of God and love for neighbor. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22,35-36). Jesus adds, “There is no other commandment greater than these.”
 

* * *
Not a few are inclined to separate the two, thinking that if they show their love for God by going to Sunday Mass and receiving Holy Communion, they have done their Christian obligation.
 

But for Jesus there can be no true love of God unless it expresses itself in love for one’s neighbor. St. John in his letter wrote clearly, thus: “If anyone says ‘I love God’ but hates his brother, he is a liar” (1 John 4,20).
 

* * *
There’s a lady who’s a regular mass goer and receives Holy Communion daily. However, she hates her niece over some altercation which happened some years ago. Some well-meaning relatives advised the pious aunt to get reconciled but she would just brush her aside. And so they go on ignoring one another.
 

* * *
This only shows that loving God can be easier than loving one’s fellowmen. A spiritual writer once said: “To live with the saints above, that is the highest glory. But to live with the saints below, that is another story.” 
 

* * *
Love for neighbor can be shown in practical ways like visiting elderly folks or the sick, a word of encouragement to those going through crisis, a sincere praise or compliment,  condoling with the bereaved, forgiveness. 
 

* * *
Ask yourself: Am I a prayerful Christian but sorely wanting in love, compassion, and justice like my poor workers? In contrast, am I so engrossed in work and business that I no longer have time for prayer and attending Mass?
 

Christ’s two commandments are a call to balance the vertical relationship with God through prayers and sacraments with the horizontal relationship through service and good works with ones fellowmen.
 

One without the other is imperfect.
 

* * *
Tomorrow is Prison Awareness Sunday. Fr. Anthony Ranada, SVD, former chaplain of Quezon City jail in Kamuning, told me repeatedly how most of our jails in Metro Manila are cramped and congested – a problem which spawns riots, gang wars and epidemics. 
 

* * *
For instance, Quezon City Jail can accommodate only 700 inmates but presently there are 3,400 or even more now! To think that majority of those behind bars are still undergoing litigation. 
 

This, too, is the woeful condition of many of our jails all over the country. Calling local government leaders to act on this festering problem.
 

* * *
In a Catholic school wherein a group of social concern students were discussing about what apostolate they would do, some included regular visitation of the local prisoners.
 

* * *
However, one of them vigorously objected, saying, “Why visit them? They deserve to be there and suffer for their crimes.”
One butted, “We do not think that way. We live by a Christian attitude,” that is, never to give up on criminals and offenders.
 

* * *
In the Last Judgment (Matthew 25, 31 ff.), one of the works of mercy the Lord will ask as a requirement for entering the Kingdom is: “When I was in prison, you visited Me.”
 

* * *              
The lighter side. A newly appointed chaplain of a prison accompanied a convict to the electric chair. What will he say to console a man about to die? “Goodbye?” “Take care?” “See you later?”
 

* * *
The young priest was at a loss. Finally, as the convict got to the electric chair, the priest more nervous now patted him on the shoulder and blurted out: “More power to you!" (Poor chaplain, he meant well but his words could also mean “more electric power”!). 

Good that we don’t have electric chair as punishment now.