March 7th, by Mr. Julian Ohizu

March 7, 2022
Saints Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs
Lv 19:1-2, 11-18/Mt 25:31-46
Mr. Julian Ohizu: Campus Minister/Theology Teacher

Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me

Today’s Scripture readings touch deeply on one of the core principles and foundations of the
Christian faith which is “love of God and love of neighbor.” We hear this message almost every
day of our life, but every time these readings are proclaimed, it reminds me of how God choses
the simple things of our life, which we seem to neglect in order to teach us who He is and what it
means to be admitted into His kingdom. The message is very simple, we can only manifest our
love of God by how we love and care for those around us. And this is how I personally see the
Christian life. One cannot profess love for God when such a person treats people around them,
those created in God’s image and likeness as if they do not matter.
The reading from the book of Leviticus which is a derivative or the second section of the Ten
Commandments. The Ten Commandments is one of the commonest rules in the world. But it
carries a lot of weight. But the issue is, how often do we sit down to reflect on the teachings and
values that are embedded in those Ten Rules? The summary of the Commandments from this
reading can be summarized in this manner: “Treat other people’s properties with respect.  Be
honest.  Be just in your dealings with others.  Pay back those to whom you owe money.  Treat
the disabled with dignity, helping them as they need assistance.  Be honest and impartial in
making decisions.  Treat all equally, with respect and dignity.  Speak well of others when they
need it, especially if it is a life-or-death situation.  Love everyone.  Be positive and edifying in
your dealings with others.  Love your neighbor as yourself.” 
Let us not forget that the Gospel readings for today will be the criteria for judgement. The lesson
to be learned is that our being judged will not be based on how many times we went to Church or
how much money we contributed to church, or how many prayers we rattle off etc. The criteria
for entering the Kingdom of Heaven are solely dependent on how we treated the less fortunate
and the needy.  The question Jesus asks us today is: How are you a caring person, how well do
you serve others especially those in need, and how much do you love? Because it is in loving and
caring for and serving others that we show our care and love for GOD. The Lord Jesus does not
“need” us to love GOD.  Yes, it is obligation to do so.  GOD is not less because we do not love
GOD.  GOD will continue to be GOD even without our loving of GOD.  But if we take the love
we have received from GOD and share it with others, not only does the person with whom we
share GOD’s love experience the presence of the Lord Jesus, but we too are blessed with an
increased awareness of GOD’s love.  Let us continue to focus on how much GOD loves us and
let that be the source and model of how we are willing to care for those around us, especially
those who are in most need of our loving service. A typical way for us to experience and share
the love of God this Lenten season is to live out the principles of the Corporal Works of Mercy
https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/jubilee-of-
mercy/the-corporal-works-of-mercy