Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk 
2nd August 2015

1. That charity which Jesus Christ requires of all his followers. This love must be founded in, and arise from the love of God, and must tend to God. Indeed, if the natural affection we have for any friend makes us have a regard for everything that belongs to him, and, if we see anything of his in danger of being lost, makes us use every means in our power to save if for him, how much more ought our love for God to make us do all we can to save our neighbour's soul, and bring it to God, when we see it in danger of being lost to God by sin.

2. The duty of corporal alms-giving; for if we be so strictly obliged in charity to assist him in his corporal necessities, how much more in what regards his soul, and his eternal salvation?

3. The command of loving our neighbour as Christ loved us; for the love of Christ to us was chiefly directed to the salvation of our souls (1 John 3:16). If, therefore, we ought to lay down our lives for the good of our neighbour's soul, how much more to give him an admonition in charity, and in brotherly correction, when we see him in danger of hurting his soul.

4. Scripture assures us that "God gave to everyone a command concerning his neighbour" (Ecclus. 17:12). Therefore, the command given to everyone concerning his neighbour is, to love one another as members of the same body. And "to be careful one for another," and consequently to give all help and assistance to our brother in his wants, especially in those of his soul.

5. Our Blessed Saviour Himself expressly commands it: "If thy brother shall offend against thee, go and reprove him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother" (Matt. 17:16). In which words this duty is clearly commanded, and at the same time the motive of it is plainly pointed out to us for our saving, by saying "If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother" teaches us that our only view in rebuking him should be his amendment, and the gaining of his soul, which, by what he was doing, was in danger of being lost.

6. A great reward is annexed to it; for, "If any of you err from the truth, and one convert him, he must know, that he who caused a sinner to be converted from error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19).