At our Parish, before Mass, we introduce ourselves to thosesitting around us and we ask for their prayer intentions. (I know, I know. Thismakes so many of us uncomfortable. But this can be really powerful, too. Wewere made for community and when you really think about this it IS a goodthing.)

Yesterday I turned around and met Janet, an elderly woman witha warm smile who I had not met before. Her prayer request was for those who aresuffering from loneliness during this holiday season.

I told her that I would pray for that intention during Mass,and I did. Then I went about the rest of my day. This morning after school dropoff Janet and her request popped into my mind.  I know that this time of year can beincredibly difficult for those who are lonely.

I said a little silent prayer again for the lonely, and thenyesterday’s gospel reading came into my mind.  In case you missed it, the gospel yesterday:

Matthew 25:31-46.

Jesus said to His disciples:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all theangels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations willbe assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as ashepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on Hisleft. Then the king will say to those on His right,

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdomprepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty andyou gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me,ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’

Then the righteous will answer Him and say,

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, orthirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, ornaked and clothe you?

When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

And the King will say to them in reply,

‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of theleast brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Then He will say to those on his left,

‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fireprepared for the devil and his angels.

For I was hungry and you have me no food,

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

A stranger and you gave me no welcome,

Naked and you gave me no clothing,

Ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’

Then they will answer and say,

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or astranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’

He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you didnot do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’

And these will go off to eternal punishment, but therighteous to eternal life.”

Okay, so, I’m thinking to myself at this point that there isan obvious correlation here between what I prayed for and this gospel reading. Weare to care for those who need it the most. This motivated me to do more thanjust share these thoughts, so I called my local nursing home and found outabout volunteer opportunities for myself and for my children. They would lovefor us to come and chat with those who cannot leave their rooms, and to paintthe nails of some of the ladies,  and toplay card games and bingo with some of the residents.  It’s no coincidence that after praying forthe lonely, God nudged me to call my local nursing home and find out how we canhelp. God is answering this prayer and using me to do it. Funny how that works,right?? Maybe this will motivate you to look for ways in which you can serve inyour community, too.

I feel like it is pretty clear that we should be helping those who are in need. I also feel that it is super cool that when we do help others we get this warm fuzzy feeling in return. It isn’t about us, but because God created us for community and created us for love, when we are living in that and truly ACTING for others, we in turn get peace. He designs us like that for a reason.  I believe that if anyone reading this right now is lonely, and they turn their attention towards trying to cure someone else’s loneliness, they in return will be cured.

Many are wondering around this world totally lost because they have forgotten who they truly are, and how loved they are, and what they are commanded to do.

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”

He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

This is the greatest and the first commandment.

The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

There are loads of problems in the world and so many lonely moments and countless lonely people. You don’t have to look very far to see those.

But there is also an antidote to loneliness and you don’t have to look too far to find Him either. You do have to go towards Him, however. He won’t force you to turn to Him,  because true love is never forced.

Can you imagine what life would be like if we all lived out these two greatest commandments, for real? Isn’t it beautiful to know that you can do this, today? Starting right now?