The Israelites believed that there are three sets of individuals that must not be treated unfairly for fear that God would fight for them since they are vulnerable: A stranger, a widow and an orphan. In the first reading of today we have a warning from God to his people in this regard. God warned them not to forget that they were strangers in a foreign land where some of them turned widows and orphans. And since he cared for them, they should do the same to these vulnerable individuals. Jesus resonated this same message in the gospel but in a broader context. He calls our attention to the fact that the only way we can prove that we love God is through love of neighbour. A Christian without love is no different from a log of wood. Love is our life, strength, food, and the reason for our existence. If we cannot love, then our living becomes meaningless.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to love one another just as you loved us. Amen