Family life teaches us so many things. We learn practical skills, but we also learn about caring, sharing, forgiving, and loving. We all know that love is the most important thing a family can share with one another, and it’s the same in God’s family.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tries to teach his disciples how to love others beyond those who are closest to them. As members of God’s family, we are called to do the same.  In Lusaka, Mabel (above) is a CMMB community health worker in some of the worst slums in Zambia.  Mabel began to notice that Akokwa (above), a young HIV+ boy who came to the Chawama Health Center each day for medication and a free, nutritious lunch, wasn’t getting better. Akokwa was shy about his home life. One day, Mabel decided to find out what was going on, and secretly followed the boy home.

Mabel told us, “It was a LONG walk!”  For miles down paved roads, and then through the narrow dirt paths and alleys, Mabel followed Akokwa to his house in the slum.  Her intuition was right. Akokwa was an orphan, living with his older brothers in a tiny one-room house shared with relatives. The older brothers had no work, and there was no money for food, school or any means of transportation. The clinic lunch was the only food Akokwa had each day.

Working with CMMB, Mabel enrolled Akokwa and his brothers in theKusamala Project to connect the boys with support for food and education.  Mabel told us,“I am not Akokwa’s auntie, but I knew he needed help. Now this boy has hope.”

Jesus does not expect us to be perfect. We are human and will not always do everything correctly. What Jesus wants us to do is to love others as if they were Jesus himself. If, like Mabel, we can reach out to others with love, we are doing exactly what Jesus did. That is what perfection looks like.

 

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*Today’s reflection is adapted from and inspired by the Loyola Press Sunday Connection.

 

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