Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Thursday, February 28, 2019

We can say that our love for our neighbour has reached its full maturity in Christ from the daily and visible exercise of charity toward our neediest brothers: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. Our love for neighbour should be an imitation and prolongation of the merciful goodness of God the Father who provides for the needs of all and makes no distinctions whether one is a friend or an enemy. Only when we let ourselves be moved by our neighbour’ impoverished state can one say that we loves God. To be indifferent to those who hunger and thirst is to be closed to Christ and to deny the universal love of our Heavenly Father. Jesus, in today’s Mk 9:41-50, reminds us that every ounce of kindness done in His Name will never be forgotten and will certainly be rewarded. Every act of love will never be unnoticed by the Father if done to give glory to Him. Because we all belong to Christ, the cord that should bind us together should be the bond of His love and compassion. When we truly love our neighbour, then we can say that we love God. Rejoice if you followed God’s commandment of love. Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.” If we imitate Christ and follow His ways, then we have certainly kept Him in our lives and we will be able to live in peace not only with one another but also with ourselves. Shalom!