Love of ThreeSample

Love your neighbor.

"And the second is similar: You will love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Matthew 22:39)

Jesus was the living example of love for others: He lived to serve, listen, rescue, and heal others.

For example, the woman caught in the act of committing adultery. The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees were going to stone her as punishment. However, Jesus, who had every right to judge her, did not. On the contrary, he defended her and gave her a new chance.

We can also mention the miracle of the loaves and fishes. More than 5,000 men, not counting women and children, had gathered to be healed by Jesus and hear him speak. When it got late, the disciples suggested that Jesus send them home so they could eat. Jesus said, "you feed them." You already know the rest of the story: with five loaves and two fish, Jesus fed all those people until they were satisfied, and there was food left over.

And what about this example of love to our neighbor that is narrated in Luke 10: 25-37?

Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, a man who was traveling to Jericho and was harmed by robbers. They took off his clothes, beat him, and left him lying there. A priest and then a Levite passed along the way. Neither of them decided to help him. But then a traveling Samaritan came along and, seeing him, felt sorry for him. He approached him, healed and bandaged his wounds, took him to a shelter, and cared for him. At the end of the parable, Jesus commands us to do the same.

Our neighbor is everyone around us. Loving our brothers and sisters is also loving God. How can we show our love to others? Listening to those who need to vent, sharing our material goods with others, giving words of encouragement, forgiving, giving second chances... in short, loving your neighbor is reflecting God's love by being a blessing to others.

Prayer: Lord, I want to love my neighbor as You love me. Help me to always be a blessing to others and to reflect Your light in every place I go.