The logical conclusion of expressing our love for God through worship is love of neighbour. The very foundation of love of neighbour is that, as God’s beloved people, we are called to love everyone and everything that God loves passionately, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

As a consequence of our allegiance to Jesus and his Gospel, we have a shared responsibility to serve the cause of social justice, to protect the most vulnerable among us, to promote the common good, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

As followers of Jesus and the Gospel, we know we have a duty to contribute to making a difference for good and that will usually come at some cost to us, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

In the person of Jesus, God entered fully into human experience, living our life and embracing the challenges, distress and fear that touch us all, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald. In so doing, Jesus taught us how to transform our lives and live in the love God extends to us.

In essence, this Sunday’s parable is a condemnation of anyone whose faith and religious practice is limited to words and ritual, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald. Moreover, the very people who are disowned and rejected by those who only look religious will be the ones whom God welcomes with open arms. Tolerance, compassion, mercy and selflessness are just words and concepts until they are brought to life in our actions and relationships with everyone we encounter.