Written by Barb Spies, OFS, Director of Mission Services and Pastoral Care

When we attend worship services, the beauty of that time of praise sends us into God’s world with the mission of caring for God’s people. We can do that in so many ways. If we know someone who is suffering, our compassion for that person demonstrates our love for God. When we open our hearts to give, we also open ourselves to receive from the Lord. It allows us to grow deeper in faith and in intimacy with Jesus Christ. Learning to love others can be a challenge. We need to focus on someone other than ourselves!

This Sunday we heard the Gospel reading where Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. When Peter insists that he does, Jesus tells him to “feed my sheep” and “tend my lambs.” We show our love of Jesus when we offer this kind of care. St. Augustine tells us that “It is love that asks, that seeks, that knocks, that finds, and that is faithful to what it finds.”

Sr. Joan Chittister explains that “Being able to reach out with warmth and care to those we do not know is every bit as important as connecting with those we do know. Otherwise, the love we claim to have is only self-centered rather than really human.” Our focus, when it goes outward rather than inward, allows us to connect with those around us who may be in need of care and healing.

St. Clare asks us to gaze on Christ, consider all that He has done, contemplate that love, and then imitate it as we go into the world. St. Clare urges, “what you hold may you always hold. What you do, may you do and never abandon.” Our call to serve God’s people with compassionate care is a clear way for us to hold Christ in our hearts and to imitate his love.

We go to worship on Sundays to give thanks to God for all that we have received. We also go to be inspired with the breath of the Holy Spirit to move forward through our week in service to those around us. As we walk out of those doors, may we be sure to take God with us, to tend God’s lambs, and to show our love for Jesus by loving others.

Blessed Angela: “Without love for our neighbor, the greatest deeds, most highly praised by people, do not bring us any merit.”