The Blessing of Charity and Love

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 1:43 pm Post subject: The Blessing of Charity and Love

The Blessing of Charity and Love

Scripture:

(Moses said to the the people) Yet so if you hear the voice of the Lord your God, and keep his precepts and ceremonies, which are written in this law: and return to the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul. This commandment, that I command you this day is not above you, nor far off from you: Nor is it in heaven, that you should say: Which of us can go up to heaven to bring it unto us, and we may hear and fulfill it in work? Nor is it beyond the sea: that you may excuse yourself, and say: Which of us can cross the sea, and bring it unto us: that we may hear, and do that which is commanded? But the word is very nigh unto you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. ( Deuteronomy 30:10-14 )

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and in him. And he is before all: and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may hold the primacy: Because in him, it has well pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell: And through him to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth and the things that are in heaven. ( Colossians 1:15-20 )

And behold a certain lawyer stood up, tempting him and saying, Master, what must I do to possess eternal life? But he said to him: What is written in the law? How do you read it? He answering, said: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with all your strength and with all your mind: and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to him: You have answered right. This do: and you shall live.

But he willing to justify himself, said to Jesus: And who is my neighbor? And Jesus answering, said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who also stripped him and having wounded him went away, leaving him half dead. And it chanced, that a certain priest went down the same way: and seeing him, passed by. In like manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, passed by. But a certain Samaritan, being on his journey, came near him: and seeing him, was moved with compassion: And going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two pence and gave to the host and said: Take care of him; and whatsoever you shall spend over and above, I, at my return, will repay you. Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to him that fell among the robbers? But he said: He that showed mercy to him. And Jesus said to him: Go, and do you in like manner. ( Luke 10:25-37 )

Reflection:

The commandments of the Lord must be viewed for what they are designed which is to lead us to love. All that we are asked to do is lead our lives so that we care for Him and one another and that we do no harm to each other. The simplicity of what He asks of us is not beyond us. What makes it difficult is our selfishness. The truth remains, though, that what we do or do not do is a result of our choice. We are guided by what is within our heart. If we invite the Holy Spirit within, we will find the blessings and the peace of selflessness, charity and love. If we invite the deceptions of the world within, we will fall to the burdens and never quenching thirst of selfishness. We will be blinded so that we cannot see, nor can we understand the truth of love.

He has left the choice to us as to the path to follow. He allows us to learn our way. To help us, he has sent His angels and prophets to guide us. Some have followed in faith, but others have fallen to ways of evil. So that all might know His Word, He came down from heaven and became man. The Word made flesh, He taught those who witnessed, but to care for the generations to come, He sent the Holy Spirit so that we will not wander to the darkness because of our weakness. The choice is not beyond us, we only need faith in the blessings which are possible if we seek the truth of His Word. If we ask Him in prayer, He will respond to us. He is our path to all which is good for He is the perfection.

As the generations have grown, people have come together and formed empires, kingdoms and governments. The cities and nations which have truly prospered in peace have done so through faith to His Word. Those which are filled with conflict and strife struggle because of the iniquities they allow through the corruption of those who lead and the empty hearts of those who follow. In the balance is the struggle for those who seek Him and those who seek to separate the children of His creation from Him.

No kingdom or government can care for all the people, for whatever the government has it must first take from the people. Only for a time can a government plunder the people before all is bled dry. It is only if the people come together in love and charity in fulfillment of His commandments that all receive care and all have the opportunity to prosper in peace and love. We need only look through history to see that no empire, kingdom or party of government has continued to stand, even if they profess His name, if they do not remain true to His ways. The leader without God in their heart will become a tyrant. A nation without love will begin to feed upon itself and those around it and eventually fall to ruin.

With the strife of the world, it is easy for us to look at another and say, they are not like me, they do not believe like me; therefore what is their misfortune to me? It is easy for us to say I will only care for those who have meaning to me, but others whom I do not know I will leave to their own way.

Of course, we, by ourselves, cannot care for the world, for the burden of the world is heavy and the needs of the many are greater than what anyone can provide but Him; but if everyone provides a measure of help from the talents and gifts He grants to each one of us, the burden is light; for if there are many hands yielding care, fewer hands must reach for care.

He works through us for it is through our actions we demonstrate our belief in His Word. It is the opportunity He gives each one of us to profess our faith and belief in His Word through what we do. If we walk another way, we leave in our wake the conditions of the world. Blessed are the communities which care for one another, for help is in every hand and charity is in every heart. Sad are the communities filled with those who care only for self for the burden to feed selfishness is heavy and the hands become few to reach out to those in need.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier