Listen for the Love message

The letter of Paul to the Philippians in the texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary is full of the love which the Apostle to the Gentiles has toward these people. Friar Jude Winkler comments that in this authentic letter Paul is writing from prison where he is uncertain about whether he will soon be executed. The focus of Paul on reunion in the afterlife with this community is resonant with our own experience of hope in the eternal nature of Love. The Gospel from Luke contains a second discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees about acting in love for the other on the Sabbath. The image of ox and ass is used a second time by Luke to remind us that our concern for our work animals, or perhaps today our work itself, can be more important to us than care of the people around us. Andy Alexander, S.J. is very aware of how the Synod on the Family speakers recently have urged us to become more attentive to accompanying people in their struggles rather than focus on rules which exclude and separate us from those we love. The challenge for us is to seek the growth in love and knowledge Paul hopes for the Philippians so that we might act, in this time, to show deeper compassion for our beloved who struggle in exclusion by our laws.