Love Of Our Neighbour

[fcgv]

***St. John Vianney

All of our religion is but a false religion and all our virtues are mere illusions and we ourselves are only hypocrites in the sight of God if we have not that universal charity for everyone, for the good and for the bad, for the poor people as well as for the rich, for all those who do us harm as much as for those who do us good.

No, my dear brethren, there is no virtue which will let us know better whether we are the children or God than charity.

The obligation we have to love our neighbour is so important that Jesus Christ put it into a Commandment which He placed immediately after that by which He commands us to love Him with all our hearts. He tells us that all the law and the prophets are included in this commandment to love our neighbour. Yes, my dear brethren, we must regard this obligation as the most universal, the most necessary and the most essential to religion and to our salvation. In fulfilling this Commandment, we are fulfilling all others. St. Paul tells us that the other Commandments forbid us to commit adultery, robbery, injuries, false testimonies. If we love our neighbour, we shall not do any of these things because the love we have for our neighbour would not allow us to do him any harm.

---

 

[arewethereyet]

Thank you!!!
I really needed to hear this.
We have neighbors (adults and children) who hate us and our son. I am praying for our safety constantly. And I pray for our neighbors but probably not as much as I should be. Thank you for sharing this!!!
Karen

 

[Della]

G. K. Chesterton said that Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor and to love our enemies, generally because they are the same people.

But seriously, if we cannot love our neighbor, as annoying as he may be or as noisy or contentious or whatever, what good is it? What virtue is there in loving those who love us? as Jesus put it. None at all.

 

[littleone]

Thank you!!!
I really needed to hear this.
We have neighbors (adults and children) who hate us and our son. I am praying for our safety constantly. And I pray for our neighbors but probably not as much as I should be. Thank you for sharing this!!!
Karen

Am praying for your situation Karen as little as my prayers may be. God bless you and your family.
Each night as i go to work with 200 odd youth I claim the blood of Christ over me and them for there is no greater insurance than the blood of the Lamb who was slain for our sins. Satan cannot over throw the power of the Blood of the Lamb. “God in us is greater than satan in those who would harm God’s little children”

God bless
littleone

 

[Della]

Thank you!!!
I really needed to hear this.
We have neighbors (adults and children) who hate us and our son. I am praying for our safety constantly. And I pray for our neighbors but probably not as much as I should be. Thank you for sharing this!!!
Karen

I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Invoke St. Michael the Archangel for protection. He’s more than happy to defeat the evil spirits that are prompting the irrational hatred on the part of your neighbors.

 

[fcgv]

Thank you!!!
I really needed to hear this.
We have neighbors (adults and children) who hate us and our son. I am praying for our safety constantly. And I pray for our neighbors but probably not as much as I should be. Thank you for sharing this!!!
Karen

You’re very welcome, and I shall think of you in my prayers.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

Greetings and peace to you all,

Could the greatest commandments possibly describe God the Father?

God loves all that he is with all his heart, soul, mind and strength?God loves each and every one of us as he loves himself?

Could God love us more than he loves himself?

When describing God could the greatest commandments be an ultimate truth? could God do anything greater?

Could the greatest commandments possibly describe how Christ is one with the Father?

Christ loves the father as he loves himself? The Father loves Christ as he loves himself?

This is just a collection of words to reflect on and challenge the mind to think. I can make no claims for these words they have been written without authority or conscious revelations from God.

Eric

 

[arewethereyet]

Am praying for your situation Karen as little as my prayers may be. God bless you and your family.
Each night as i go to work with 200 odd youth I claim the blood of Christ over me and them for there is no greater insurance than the blood of the Lamb who was slain for our sins. Satan cannot over throw the power of the Blood of the Lamb. “God in us is greater than satan in those who would harm God’s little children”

God bless
littleone

Thank you!
I do talk alot to Him when I am paranoid.
Like when I am home alone or at night if I get paranoid.
Thanks…
Karen

 

[arewethereyet]

I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Invoke St. Michael the Archangel for protection. He’s more than happy to defeat the evil spirits that are prompting the irrational hatred on the part of your neighbors.

Thank you!
I will pray to St. Michael the Archangel.
I could really use that feeling of protection.
The one neighbor boy actually text messaged me on my cell phone and called me a b**** yesterday.
I don’t feel like I can talk to his parents as his dad likes to fistfight and his mom is really hard.
Karen

 

[arewethereyet]

You’re very welcome, and I shall think of you in my prayers.

Thank you very much!
Karen

 

[chevalier]

I think the charity makes us more similar to God. He did create us in His image, but that image grows in charity, I think. God loves the good and the bad, forgives all who as much as ask (sincerely), always gives another chance, I’ve even read a description of the confessional as a court where God passes acquittal just for admitting to the crime and regretting it. If we were to treat all our fellow humans like that, we would be more like God. Our Earth would be more like Heaven. I have this nudging feel that God will forgive us a lot for just being loving to people, that the love of the neighbour will transform us and make up for a lot of imperfections.

 

[arewethereyet]

I think the charity makes us more similar to God. He did create us in His image, but that image grows in charity, I think. God loves the good and the bad, forgives all who as much as ask (sincerely), always gives another chance, I’ve even read a description of the confessional as a court where God passes acquittal just for admitting to the crime and regretting it. If we were to treat all our fellow humans like that, we would be more like God. Our Earth would be more like Heaven. I have this nudging feel that God will forgive us a lot for just being loving to people, that the love of the neighbour will transform us and make up for a lot of imperfections.

Thanks, friend!
I like that way of looking at it.
Thanks for sharing…
Karen

 

[chevalier]

My pleasure. Thanks for reaffirming me I wasn’t walking with my head in the clouds. Just to clarify, when I said it would make up for a lot of imperfections I meant it as improving us, maybe “convincing” God to give us more chances, help us, not in any sense of excuse other than maybe that those who love a lot will be forgiven a lot, but no liberties, still trying hard.

 

[arewethereyet]

My pleasure. Thanks for reaffirming me I wasn’t walking with my head in the clouds. Just to clarify, when I said it would make up for a lot of imperfections I meant it as improving us, maybe “convincing” God to give us more chances, help us, not in any sense of excuse other than maybe that those who love a lot will be forgiven a lot, but no liberties, still trying hard.

You’re welcome, friend!!
And thank you!!!
I know I need to forgive so I can be forgiven for my sins.
I really need to forgive the neighbor boy who called me that nasty name.
I always tell my husband that if we ever got into the money I want to move.
But who’s to say I wouldn’t encounter neighbor problems in a new neighborhood?
I actually had a friend who lived in a nicer neighborhood than mine and her next door neighbors were drug dealers
But thanks and please pray for me for God to soften my heart.
God bless…
Karen

 

[chevalier]

In psychology, they sometimes want you to imagine the results of something so you can do it. In mediation, which I learnt about during my law studies, you ask people to imagine what it would be like if they were able actually to negotiate an agreement instead of fighting or instead of litigating. Then you can also ask them to imagine what if they aren’t able to. Perhaps if you imagine yourself not having such problems with neighbours and/or other people, it could inspire the effort. Imagining myself as a better person in some regard has helped me on occassion, too, so it might work for you as well.

Speaking of, mediation is really a good thing for dealing with neighbours if you can’t solve it by just talking. Besides, at some point, most people will be broken by just being nice to them. If you turn the other cheek a number of times, the person will feel bad sooner or later. Similarly, maybe if you swallow a couple of bad names or harsh words, and try to be as nice to them as you can without flattery or subservience or unmerited spoiling, then maybe they will break. Perhaps being invited for a dinner should make them feel a bit ashamed of how they had treated you before and inspire some effort in them? I know it’s awfully hard, but I think fathoming the idea is much harder than executing it and one doesn’t loose that much by actually doing it. Ever had a friend who started off as an enemy?

In my prayers.

 

[littleone]

You know my wife and I have had a lot of negative thrown into our lives and recently it became very heated. But it was not enough to harm us because God told us in amongst it all that we fight not against human enemies, but against principalities of darkness". At that very thought I realised the deceit of satan. His sword was to take my wife and I of guard thinking about our individual self and cause disintegration. God however had His way and because I listened to God I went to my wife and shared how we must come back to the centre pole that holds us together.

In my way of relating it is to take the house, my self, which is the four corners of my being, mental, physical, spiritual and emotional elements. Relating individually, If one part falls apart then the others will have a hard time rebuilding, (this is the worldly way). As a Catholic Christian we take the centre poll which is Jesus so that when one of our four corners falls apart then it is given a boost in strength by the centre poll, which is forgetting about self, thinking Jesus as the centre of our life NOT my thoughts NOT my wife’s or any other person, but Jesus thoughts as the truthful centre.

My wife and I started relating differences through the pole (Jesus), relating to Jesus centred thinking. Forgetting about self and thinking of Jesus love for us. All at once the fumes disappeared and love was given a chance.

Now when any situation arrives I think of Jesus centeredness and when any of the four corners fall apart they are called back together, strengthened by the love of Jesus. I use this with the 200 odd youth from all over the world who I work with as well as any person on the road in any situation. It gives way to loving al as my brother and sister.

God bless
littleone

 

[fcgv]

I think the charity makes us more similar to God. He did create us in His image, but that image grows in charity, I think. God loves the good and the bad, forgives all who as much as ask (sincerely), always gives another chance, I’ve even read a description of the confessional as a court where God passes acquittal just for admitting to the crime and regretting it. If we were to treat all our fellow humans like that, we would be more like God. Our Earth would be more like Heaven. I have this nudging feel that God will forgive us a lot for just being loving to people, that the love of the neighbour will transform us and make up for a lot of imperfections.

Love of neighbour is, when you think about it, the essence of the Gospel. Remembering that love is not always accepting of the wrong that is done. rather it is forgiving that wrong because doing so is right.

 

[arewethereyet]

In psychology, they sometimes want you to imagine the results of something so you can do it. In mediation, which I learnt about during my law studies, you ask people to imagine what it would be like if they were able actually to negotiate an agreement instead of fighting or instead of litigating. Then you can also ask them to imagine what if they aren’t able to. Perhaps if you imagine yourself not having such problems with neighbours and/or other people, it could inspire the effort. Imagining myself as a better person in some regard has helped me on occassion, too, so it might work for you as well.

Speaking of, mediation is really a good thing for dealing with neighbours if you can’t solve it by just talking. Besides, at some point, most people will be broken by just being nice to them. If you turn the other cheek a number of times, the person will feel bad sooner or later. Similarly, maybe if you swallow a couple of bad names or harsh words, and try to be as nice to them as you can without flattery or subservience or unmerited spoiling, then maybe they will break. Perhaps being invited for a dinner should make them feel a bit ashamed of how they had treated you before and inspire some effort in them? I know it’s awfully hard, but I think fathoming the idea is much harder than executing it and one doesn’t loose that much by actually doing it. Ever had a friend who started off as an enemy?

In my prayers.

I hear what you are saying.
And I have tried so many times to be nice.
But these people just don’t care.
They hate me and my family in spite of my friendliness.
I have been given some advice by a well educated and religious person.
I have to pretend like they don’t exist.
That’s what I have been trying to do.
As far as the neighbor kid who called me the bad name.
I have realized that his behavior is learned.
And I am not angry with him anymore.
And the neighbor mom who is the most hateful?
When she first moved here, she decided right away she didn’t like me.
When I hadn’t even done anything to her.
And then I thought we had become friends.
Our kids shared the same interests.
But I have come to think that she was never a real friend.
Because she decided to start treating my family and I bad.
So even though I am not angry, I am taking some very good advice and just continuing to look the other way.
I tried so many times to reach out and be nice to my neighbors and I get no reaction.
But I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post.
Thanks.
Karen

 

[arewethereyet]

You know my wife and I have had a lot of negative thrown into our lives and recently it became very heated. But it was not enough to harm us because God told us in amongst it all that we fight not against human enemies, but against principalities of darkness". At that very thought I realised the deceit of satan. His sword was to take my wife and I of guard thinking about our individual self and cause disintegration. God however had His way and because I listened to God I went to my wife and shared how we must come back to the centre pole that holds us together.

In my way of relating it is to take the house, my self, which is the four corners of my being, mental, physical, spiritual and emotional elements. Relating individually, If one part falls apart then the others will have a hard time rebuilding, (this is the worldly way). As a Catholic Christian we take the centre poll which is Jesus so that when one of our four corners falls apart then it is given a boost in strength by the centre poll, which is forgetting about self, thinking Jesus as the centre of our life NOT my thoughts NOT my wife’s or any other person, but Jesus thoughts as the truthful centre.

My wife and I started relating differences through the pole (Jesus), relating to Jesus centred thinking. Forgetting about self and thinking of Jesus love for us. All at once the fumes disappeared and love was given a chance.

Now when any situation arrives I think of Jesus centeredness and when any of the four corners fall apart they are called back together, strengthened by the love of Jesus. I use this with the 200 odd youth from all over the world who I work with as well as any person on the road in any situation. It gives way to loving al as my brother and sister.

God bless
littleone

Thank you for your advice!
I feel good to be free of resentment today.
It’s only through God that I am this way.
I have found that I can’t force people to be how I would like them to be.
So I am just trying to get on my way.
I have tried several times to be friendly.
And have gotten no reaction.
So I’m just going to get on with my life.
If my neighbors decide they would like to be friendly or civil or whatever, I’ll be there.
Until then, I guess I am just tired of beating my head against a brick wall.
Thanks.
Karen

 

[littleone]

Thank you for your advice!
I feel good to be free of resentment today.
It’s only through God that I am this way.
I have found that I can’t force people to be how I would like them to be.So I am just trying to get on my way.
I have tried several times to be friendly.
And have gotten no reaction.So I’m just going to get on with my life.If my neighbors decide they would like to be friendly or civil or whatever, I’ll be there.Until then, I guess I am just tired of beating my head against a brick wall.Thanks.
Karen

Hey Karen sorry if I gave you information that was inapropriate, the info was how we related. I didn’t write it spacifically for anyone but more as a point of interest that might have been helpful to some one.
I agree with you that we all are called to get on with our lives, and relatiing to my point it sometimes is satan that tries to disuade us or side track us from our own road. I guess we can hope to love and forgive others but it is up to themself wether they follow and wish to become friendly. Between God and us though if we have asked forgiveness and forgive others then that is the first point in God accepting us as we are, wouldn’t you think?
I think so any way!

I just thought of something, I have just married, and my wife has a 12 year old son who refuse to see me in any other way than how he feels and most of the time negatively yelling at me, shouling telling me he hates me, (does this seem similar) In prayer Jesus told me to give the reigns over to my wife to the point of she being the person to tell him how and what to do even in manners. She then told her son that in this way that I would be behind her and that my wife would not be bullied or put down by her son.

End product is that I feel much more t ease and my wife has much more power and the situation has changed since he now realises that mum has backing and that although I am generally silent one word (in love) meens exactly what mum says. In just one week this change has caused much peace in our family and I am more at ease not having to do much.

God bless
littleone