Indeed it is very difficult to love our neighbor, when so many seem unlovable. How do we follow and live out such a comprehensive commandment?

This is exactly what God teaches us through Jesus: “to love your neighbor as yourself”: to support the grumpy relative, to look after the irresponsible drugged-up brother, to be concerned for the office associate who has wronged us, to leave no one in our love, to be concerned for the very least of Christ’s brethren.

This is not easy on our own power. Let us continue to pray to learn to love and serve our neighbor as we should and could. When we are well-fed, may no one feel hunger; may the sick and advanced in years have the care they need; may those grieving and distressed be consoled.

May we learn to be like the good Samaritan to the traveler who had fallen to robbers. And on judgment day may we receive the reward promised by Jesus: “Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.” (Mt 25:34)