30th Sunday Ordinary Time - October 29th, 2023 (Click Here for Readings)

We are not likely to see the face of our Almighty God in this life, but his image can certainly be found in our neighbor, the God we can see. We may have to dig a bit to turn up that “God part” of a friend, neighbor, 
co-worker or even family member, but with a little effort it can be doable and among the great discoveries in our lifetime.

When we think of the many past saints we’ve read and heard about, or great modern-day people we know of who devote their hearts, minds and souls to the love and service of others, they’re in essence devoting themselves directly to God in a very visible and tangible way.

And we can do the same by turning our attention to the needs of our friends and neighbors, and obeying Jesus' great second commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves after first loving God with all our heart, mind and soul.

Role Models to Follow and Avoid

When we observe our modern-day culture and attitudes, they are not much different from what Moses warned the Israelites about in the reading from Exodus today . . . to oppress the poor, ignore the needy and take advantage of the lowly. So as God-loving Christians, it’s up to us to divert from the crowds of those with attitudes of self-centeredness and indifference toward the many in need of attention, love and help in emotional, spiritual and material ways.

To model ourselves after the Thessalonians that St. Paul praises for proclaiming and emulating Christ in word and action despite their many trials and challenges are qualities we need to display more of to our contemporaries.

It’s also important not to limit our love for neighbor as ourselves to familiar and comfortable communities and surroundings. Beyond the race, color, religion, social status or worldviews of those in need are where opportunities flourish to pour ourselves out to all and transform ourselves in the process.

Can’t Have One Without the Other

If we don’t love man on the earth, can we honestly say we love God “in the cloud”? If we claim that we love God based on a narrowly focused one-to-one relationship, where does that leave man, not to speak of all his other creatures?

We all know so-called religious Christians who live “God and me” lives, praying incessantly from the pews or at home alone while living in cocoons socially. What a sadness for them to miss the many opportunities to enrich their one-to-one relationships with God by opening up their doors and hearts to the ever so many of his children surrounding them in need.

Though there may be many good-hearted people who feel truly called to live in quiet solo prayer and meditation for themselves, their loved ones or worldly causes, let us pray for their discernment as to whether or not they are limiting themselves to the opportunities to openly love their neighbors as themselves.

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