Commentary on the Gospel of
Many years ago, I was traveling in Kenya and had the opportunity to meet two young women who lived in a home for children rescued from the streets. As we chatted, they asked where I lived. I responded with great pride that I live in my own home. Where I come from, it’s considered a great accomplishment to be a homeowner, particularly as a young woman. But my new Kenyan friends were not impressed. On the contrary, they felt sorry for me because I had to live alone. Unlike them, I did not have loving companions to share my home.
From the beginning, God recognized that it is not good for us to be alone. We need to seek out others, to live in community. For many people, that means living as a family or in a religious community. But even those who live alone – by choice or by circumstances – are called to community. We ca reach out to those around us in our parishes or neighborhoods. We can be attentive to those who have no one, especially the elderly or those who lack loving families. With an attentive ear and welcoming heart, we can help to build loving communities.
