“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13: 34-35).

There is a great song that summarises today’s readings. It goes like this:

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

This song describes the fact that often what attracted people to Christianity in the early Church was the charity and love shown to one another by the early Christians.

An example of this reality in our parish is the parish’s Winter Welcome Table Program that serves a meal to anyone in need in our community. Often Catholics, other Christians and non- Christians, come to the parish because of the Winter Welcome Table Program. When they see the great work that is done at this meal, they often want to know more about the parish and some even return to attending Mass. Continue reading →