Love is our strength

In today’s first reading, God commands the chosen People to act fairly and compassionately to their neighbor, and warns them of the consequences if they do not. Jesus, in the Gospel, tells the Pharisees that love of God and love of Neighbor take precedence over every other commandment. St. Paul considers the Thessalonians a model for all believers, as their love of God and Neighbor is very evident.

Nobody owes anybody anything but love. It is up to each individual to set high standards for himself or herself, and to set about working hard and creating a solid future of love. It is love that makes this life worthwhile. It is love that is the key to eternal life.

The Old Testament wants the Israelites to know they were once aliens in the land of Egypt and must now be kind and compassionate to all. We also must never forget that our grandparents or greatgrandparents were also aliens here in the U.S.A.

Very few of us do not have an ancestor who was once an alien here and must draw the line to our forebearers and be understanding to all people. Jesus wants us to know, realize and live the fact and faith that the Two Commandments, love of God and love of neighbor are interrelated. It is a basic fact of faith that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. Hence, we are called to love that image in others, as we strive to love the Almighty Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis continually teaches the need to treat both the earth and all on it with respect as a gift to us from the Lord. Prejudice, racism and any kind of put down to ones’ neighbor is wrong.

Screen time is generally defined as the amount of time spent using a device with a screen, on a smartphone, computer, television, or video game console. With the COVID -l9 crisis, school closures and families engaged in virtual calls, social media and surfing challenges are presented for all. With around the clock care or grappling with distance learning and more siblings home for longer periods of time, many have relaxed the screen time rules for the bored, and this can increase the risk for all.

It is so easy on screen time to be confronted with sexually explicit material and with people who have bad intentions and seek to abuse. It is important that we all watch the time wasted on screen time or the activities of our children on online communication, because disturbing shows or actions can lead to abuses.

As Christians we must observe the moral code that oppression or abuse of anyone under any circumstances is unacceptable. Love of God and Neighbor has no limits or borders. With screen time and all of the devices, seldom is honest, respectful love shown or shared or encouraged. This type of screen love is not our strength or our key to heaven.