This week's readings Week of Oct. 27 - Nov. 2 Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002 Reading I: Ex 22:20-26 Reading II: 1 Thes 1:5c-10 Gospel: Mt 22:34-40 Monday, Oct. 28, 2002 Reading I: Eph 2:19-22 Gospel: Lk 6:12-16 Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002 Reading I: Eph 5:21-33 Gospel: Lk 13:18-21 Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002 Reading I: Eph 6:1-9 Gospel: Lk 13:22-30 Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002 Reading I: Eph 6:10-20 Gospel: Lk 13:31-35 Friday, Nov. 1, 2002 Reading I: Rev 7:2-4, 9-14 Reading II: 1 Jn 3:1-3 Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002 Reading I: Is 25:6-9 Gospel: Mt 11:25-30 Pope's Prayer Intentions October General Intention That parishes and catechists may work together for the new evangelization: That catechists may have the prayers and collaboration of their parish communities for the successful accomplishment of the new evangelization. October Mission Intention That proclaimers of the word teach Christ's love for the poor: That missionaries, priests, religious, and the laity courageously teach Jesus Christ's love for the poor.

It all depends:
On loving God and others

		Word of God  Word of Life  Fr. John G. Stillmank

G. K. Chesterton wrote, "The test of all happiness is gratitude." He may have meant that to tell how truly happy we are in life we must see how grateful we are. He may have meant that truly grateful people are happy. He may have meant that, if we are not grateful, we are only deceiving ourselves if we say at the same time that we are happy.

The Scriptures give us a similar message about love. We could write, "The test of love of God is love of neighbor." That could be taken in three ways also.

"The Holy Spirit can help us - who claim to love God but who need work in the area of loving our neighbor - to see the faces of the people around us in the God we cannot see."

First, to tell how truly people love God we could look at how they love their neighbor. The parable of the Good Samaritan gives us an example from the Gospel. Did the priest and the Levite, who passed by the man left half-dead by robbers, show their love for that man? No. Can we tell from their actions whether they truly love God? I think we can.

They would protest "But I do love God!" So would we. If someone pointed out how our love of neighbor failed when it was important and said "see, you don't love God because of this" we would protest. Would we be wrong? Perhaps - and having our eyes opened we would receive a chance to change our lives, to change how we love.

Readings for 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Oct. 27, 2002) Exodus 22:20-26 Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10 Matthew 22:34-40

Second, we could look at people who truly love their neighbor in the way of the Gospel and say that they love God. This "test" is more difficult because there could be people who exhibit a great love of neighbor but who do not believe in God. How can they love the One in whom they do not believe?

Yet their love and service for others can be an opening for the Gospel, so that the Holy Spirit can help them to recognize the God they do not see in the people they do see, the people they serve and love.

Third, we could also say that that those who do not love their neighbor are only deceiving themselves if they say at the same time that they love God. There are those in the Church who have not fully accepted the Gospel message. They do not love their neighbor - just look at what they do. Sometimes they are us. Sometimes we are those who do not love.

When that happens, we too have an opportunity to have our hearts opened up to the fullness of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit can help us - who claim to love God but who need work in the area of loving our neighbor - to see the faces of the people around us in the God we cannot see. Then we can become truer disciples of Jesus. Then we can love others as we should.

Jesus summarized the whole law and the prophets in the two great commandments of love: "you shall love the Lord, your God" with all that is in you, and "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Everything depends on these two commandments. Love, then, is the test - if you will - on which all else depends.

If happiness is shown by a grateful heart, then the faces of our brothers and sisters show the face of God to us, and vice versa.

Love God, above all else. Love others, as you love yourself. Simple, yet full of meaning and hope for those who desire to be witnesses of God's love in the world to those around them.

Fr. John G. Stillmank is Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Madison and pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Verona, and St. William Parish, Paoli.