Doing acts of kindness and expressing love concretely lead us to a deeper and closer relationship with God.

When I was in fourth year high school, I remember excelling in Mathematics and Science. Many of my classmates found it difficult to grasp the lessons being taught especially in Advanced Algebra and Physics. Since these subjects were my expertise, I was able to share the knowledge I acquired and extended assistance to my fellow classmates without expecting anything in return.

In college, this continued and I experienced teaching my friends with our Chemistry subjects. My friends would return the favor by teaching me likewise whenever I did not understand a particular lesson. This was the camaraderie that existed within my group of friends as an expression of love and support for each other. Through thick or thin, we were together.

God invites us to never cease giving ourselves fully for the service of Him and others. This is the purpose of our existence–to imitate the way our Lord Jesus Christ and live a life of holiness and obedience to the Father’s will. Acts of kindness and any form of assistance that one can provide, for as long as it comes from the heart and does not expect anything in return, are offerings pleasing to the Lord. Virtuous actions done out of love for God and neighbor help us attain everlasting life.

By: Sem. Fernan Angelo M. Gonzales

Today’s Gospel

Lk. 6: 6-11

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely
to see if he would cure on the sabbath
so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.
But he realized their intentions
and said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up and stand before us.”
And he rose and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them,
“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
“Stretch out your hand.”
He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged
and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.