Love.

One for another. We cause Jesus joy when we help one another.

We need one another. Sometimes we realize this more and sometimes less. Jesus healed the sick. St. Matthew writes this: “Get up, take up your bed, and go home” (Mt. 9:7). Jesus proves his power not only in word, but also in deed. But Jesus did not come into the world to present Himself as a miraculous healer. He came to reconcile humanity to the Father. Original sin has inflicted consequences on all people until the end of time. In the same way, every personal sin a person commits causes consequences on both the physical and spiritual life of a person.

Jesus teaches people to love throughout his life. Many around him are aware of this. What we must not overlook, not underestimate, what is important is: to behave according to the words of Jesus. He wants us to believe his teachings. The command of love touches our convictions, our life in the soul, and our outward expressions about God, our neighbors, and ourselves. The power of love addresses specific attitudes, actions, and behaviors. When we are faithful to the words of Jesus, “Thy will be done,” we must not and cannot be indifferent to helping or not helping our neighbor. This is not only true in the social or charitable sphere. It is to apply whenever and wherever we are to communicate to someone the graces they need from Jesus. By fulfilling the command of love, God will give His graces to us who fulfill the power of love and those for whom we have undertaken to do the knowledge of love.

Shall we, therefore, turn a blind eye to fulfilling the command of love? Do we prefer the philosophy of “what doesn’t burn you, don’t burn you”? That is not and cannot be Christian. Do we know what the works of Christian corporal and spiritual mercy are? They are based on the Beatitudes of Jesus. Jesus rewards man’s genuine love for the man with still other gifts. He not only heals the lame man of the gospel in his body but also forgives his sins.

Indeed, we often forget our sins. Yes, mercy acts of charity by which we help our neighbors in their physical and spiritual needs, but we must remember that our genuine love for God and our neighbors should also be mindful of the soul. In that spirit, it is appropriate to instruct, counsel, comfort, and strengthen to act in the heart that these are also acts of spiritual mercy. The works of corporal mercy are especially these: to feed the hungry, take in the homeless, clothe the ragged, visit the sick and prisoners, to bury the dead. Giving alms to the poor is one of the principal witnesses of fraternal charity among these acts; it is also the doing of justice which pleases God” (CCC 2447). Material deprivation, unjust oppression, physical and mental illness, and ultimately death is human misery. A man comes to this state after original sin.