It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. (Mother Teresa) - Daily Bible Reflections October 7,2013

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

 

THE POOR IN OUR HOME

 

“And who is my neighbor?” – Luke 10:29

 

Mother Teresa shared during her Nobel Lecture on December 11, 1979 an unforgettable opportunity she had when she visited an institution for the elderly. She asked a sister: “How is it that the people have everything here, (but) why are they all looking towards the door, why are they not smiling?” And the sister replied, “They are expecting, they are hoping that a son or daughter will come to visit them.”

       Mother Teresa said, “That poverty comes right there in our own home, even neglect of love. Maybe in our own family we have somebody who is feeling lonely, who is feeling sick, who is feeling worried, and these are difficult days for everybody. Are we there to receive them? Is the mother there to receive the child?”

       We generally think that our neighbor is somebody out there and not inside our own homes. But as Mother Teresa said, “The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them. We must make our homes centers of compassion and forgive endlessly.” Judith Concepcion (svp_jmc@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. (Mother Teresa)

 

Lord, please remind me whenever I forget that my family is also my neighbor. Help me to strike a balance between my ministries and my service to my family.

 

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.