Love Thy Neighbor
Objective
I can analyze and reflect on Scripture passages on the importance of loving thy neighbor
Love Thy Neighbor
The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. The LORD God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him. So the LORD God formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each living creature was then its name. The man gave names to all the tame animals, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be a helper suited to the man. So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman. When he brought her to the man, the man said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man this one has been taken.”
Genesis 2:15, 18-23:
Discussion Questions
How did you imagine the Garden of Eden to look as you listened to this passage?
Why do you think it is not good for people to be alone?
Why is it good for people to have a helpmate and companion for life?
What did Adam have to do before God created Eve?
Why do you think God created Eve from Adam’s rib?
What did Adam say when he saw Eve?
God wants us to love other people and to be loved by other people. It is good for us to give and to receive love from each other. When we give and receive love, we are living in the image of God, because the Persons of the Trinity give and receive love among each other. God shares His own eternal love with us, and He calls us to share His love with other. That is why God gives our hearts the desire to love and be loved — so we can be like Him!
Discussion Questions
What are some of the great joys in life that God gives us through other people?
As He drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her.When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Luke 7:12-15:
Activity 1: Lectio Divina
Pray the Lectio Divina using Luke 7: 12-15 as the passage to reflect on. A guide has been provided.
Lectio Divina.pdfDiscussion Questions
Why do you think Jesus was moved with pity for the mother?
What did Jesus say to the mother? “Do not weep.”
When the young man sat up and spoke, what did Jesus do?
All men are called to the same end: God himself. There is a certain resemblance between the unity of the divine Persons and the fraternity that men are to establish among themselves in truth and love. Love of neighbor is inseparable from love for God.
Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 1878
Discussion Questions
How would you put this passage into your own words?
What does the word fraternity mean?
We are to establish fraternity in what two things?
How can people living in fraternity resemble the unity of Divine Persons?