“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
“You are obliged to love your neighbor as yourself, and loving him, you ought to help him spiritually, with prayer, counseling him with words, and assisting him both spiritually and temporally, according to the need in which he may be, at least with your goodwill if you have nothing else. A man therefore, who does not love, does not help him, and thereby does himself an injury; for he cuts off from himself grace, and injures his neighbor, by depriving him of the benefit of the prayers and of the sweet desires that he is bound to offer for him to Me. Thus, every act of help that he performs should proceed from the charity which he has through love of Me.”
Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in her treatise “How every virtue and every defect is obtained by means of our neighbor” in the Dialog of Catherine of Siena (Grand Rapids: CCEL) 25.
Jenni and I are learning that when we love our neighbors “from the charity” we have through loving Christ, there is blessing both directions. When we pursue them with kindness, we are often blessed with kindness in response.
Consider the example of our neighbors, Ken and Carol, whose townhouse is pictured above behind the evergreen tree. They came to our first “Second Friday” social. We started a pattern of hosting an open house on the second Friday of each month to build community in our neighborhood. Different people have taken turns hosting it monthly, and the gathering provides a great context to get to know and love our neighbors.
When Ken and Carol learned I was a biblical scholar and that I was willing to help them understand the Scriptures, they opened their heart and home to me to come teach the Bible to them. When I help them grow in Christ, they bless me with the charity they receive from God. In other words, when I love my neighbor, I am not left empty, but rather, I end up enriched!
Jenni and I have come to realize that Catherine of Siena is spot on with her comment that when we don’t love our neighbor, we cut ourselves off from the grace, prayers, and blessings that flow to us as a result of our obedience. So, following the commandment of Jesus (which is not burdensome but intended for our blessing) go love your neighbor generously and see for yourself what happens.