By Ileana A.
The gospel from this week’s Catholic service was taken from Matthew 25:31-46. In this reading, Jesus said one of my favorite lines, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” This was a reminder for me that I must love my neighbor. Another saying that comes to mind is, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” However, I think that Jesus meant more than that. It is not about what you get in return, rather it is about giving love.
I believe that in this reading, Jesus gives us the best advice. If we truly love Jesus, or our higher power, then we should do everything out of love for him. This same principle can be found in other religions and cultures. For example, in India people bow to each other saying “Namaste” which is a symbol of respect. In yoga, it is often taken to mean, “The divinity in me bows to the divinity in you.” It is an underlying theme in many religions that there is something holy and spiritual within everyone. As a young girl, I was taught that Jesus lives in people’s hearts and that because of that I must treat everyone the way I would treat Jesus. This concept also ties in with an idea I learned here at The Family Foundation School. I discovered that I could learn something from anyone, a newcomer or a senior, because my higher power can speak to me through any person. This makes me conclude that all life is sacred; therefore, it must be respected, loved, and honored.
