Tag Archives: individualism

Commandment

28 Thursday Jan 2016

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The Great Commandment Final
Today’s Reading: Mark 12:30-31 Version NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12%3A30-31&version=NIV

The word commandment always brings the idea of obedience, discipline and a search for the right behavior. However, speaking of “commandments” Jesus refers to the beginning of life and makes an invitation to heed his advice, finding in them joy, peace and personal satisfaction. This is the law of love; not to oppress anyone, on the contrary, it generates life, understanding and happiness.

Love your neighbor as yourself; it is the commandment of Jesus. It is an invitation that challenges us to abandon our individualism to participate in the lives of others through acts of kindness, love and tenderness.

We must pay attention to the people around us, because many need our help. We need more than ever to stop being self-centered, only worrying about our stuff.

It’s time to change. It is necessary to pay more attention to the events around us, because sometimes, we are bearers of the only solution to the problems of other people. Love is not just a feeling but also action. Jesus invites us to act!

Ildefonso Torres

The Good Neighbor

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Neighbors
Today’s Reading: Mark 12:28-31
Tokyo city is divided into districts, each with a neighborhood association that deals with social services, street cleaning, appointment of security officers and other things.

Our world is moving very fast towards individualism. Nobody knows nobody; people do not care for each other and even the residents of an apartment building don’t talk to each other. An individual may be attacked in public and no one will help. Nobody wants to get involved.

On many occasions, we are like the priest and the Levite in the parable of Jesus, who passed by when they saw the man who was in problems. This parable teaches us to recognize our neighbors and also how we treat them. As Christians, we have to care about our neighbors and must try to understand their suffering and pain. It’s not enough to grieve at the sight of those who are dying of hunger and misery; we must reach out. It’s not enough to know the name of your neighbor.

Jesus wants his followers to develop the art of good neighborliness, and He will help us, if we do so.

Ildefonso Torres