A Loving Family

I have had the pleasure of knowing one of the most loving families around. The entire family is an inspiration. The mother and the father are two of the most loving, caring and devoted people I know; and their two teenage daughters possess a powerful faith and are outward looking personalities. Their home is a haven of peace and harmony. They are always welcoming company. If any stranger is stranded in the town, it is this family that finally comes to help. The family is quick to acknowledge that their love comes from only one source, namely, Christ to whom they are bound together in love. It is this charity that St Paul praises in the Philippians, for they knew that their love for Christ must overflow into love for their neighbour; and of course St Paul recommends more love, saying, “I pray your love may abound more and more” (Phil 1:9). In direct contrast was the attitude of the Pharisees who objected to Christ’s healing of the man with dropsy, just because he was healed on a Sabbath (Lk 14:2). True Christian love has power to change our world. It gives new hope to the discouraged, new strength to the weak, new joys to the sorrowing. It makes life more worthwhile to everyone into whose eyes it looks.

Meditation On Bible Readings: Phil 1:1-11; Lk 14:1-6