Embedded Files
You Shall Love Your Neighbor
Topic 6: He Ain’t Heavy; He’s My Brother [1]
Behind YOUCAT
You may not remember the music group The Hollies or their megahit, “He Ain’t Heavy; He’s My Brother”. It’s worth checking out on the Internet or elsewhere. And the old hymn “Let There Be Peace on Earth” tells us, “With God as our Father, brothers all are we; let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony. . . .” Yes, we are all children of our loving Father God, which makes us all sisters and brothers of one another. Jesus tells us his burden is easy; his yoke is light (see Mt 11:30). It is the burden of love of neighbor; it is the yoke of justice and peace. Cain asked God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9). For those who follow Christ, the answer is a clear and resounding: YES! As far as it is in my power to desire and intend what is good for my fellow man, that is what I am commanded to do. The Church helps us apply the idea of loving our neighbor to different circumstances, beginning with following the commandments.
Read YOUCAT
Read the content under YOUCAT# 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 378, 379, 383, and 395 (numbers in yellow circle) from YOUCAT p.202~p.216. [2]
What Does YOUCAT Say?
What does the Fourth Commandment say about what we owe to our parents and others in rightful authority (YOUCAT #367, #371, #372, and #373)?
In God’s plan, how important is the family (YOUCAT #368, #369, and #370)?
What does the Fifth Commandment forbid and why (YOUCAT #378, #379, and #383)?
What is peace (YOUCAT #395)?
Answer the above questions [Click Here]
YOU Reflect
God revealed the Ten Commandments to Moses, but it wasn’t as if God had never given mankind any indication of his will before he did so. Most of what is in the Ten Commandments, the people of Israel already knew. It was a matter of whether they would commit themselves to God in keeping the commandments. Most of us, too, know the truth of the commandments. Sure, we should study them to learn the details and to understand better why God wants us to do certain things and not do others. That helps us understand what is really good for us. But for most of us it isn’t a matter of knowing what the commandments are but whether we will decide, with God’s help, to obey them.
How would the world be different if everyone obeyed the Ten Commandments?
How would your life be different if you obeyed the Ten Commandments perfectly for one week?
How does obeying or disobeying the Ten Commandments affect one’s relationship to God?
Answer the above questions [Click Here]
What Does the Bible Say?
Read Sirach 7:27-28. According to Sirach 7:27-28, can we ever repay God or our parents for what they have given us?
Read Romans 12:10 and Colossians 3:21. St. Paul teaches family members and members of the Church how to love one another in Romans 12:10 and Colossians 3:21. What does St. Paul say?
Read Matthew 5:21-22. How does Jesus elevate the Fifth Commandment in Matthew 5:21-22?
Answer the above questions [Click Here]
YOU Chat
What will it take to renew family life in the world today?
If the laws of every State protected innocent human life from conception to natural death, how would the world change?
How are peace and justice related to one another?
Answer the above questions [Click Here]
YOU Challenge
Love:
Hug your mom today and tell her you love her. If she’s far away, give her a “phone hug”. Or pray for her.
Love Life:
Choose a pro-life activity and participate in it, such as “Life Chain” or a pro-life march. To find out what God wants you to do to help mothers and their prenatal children, contact your parish respect life committee.
References / Citations
[1] Brumley, Mark, Kersting, Jack, and George, Paul . YOUCAT Study Guide. San Francisco, Calif: Ignatius Press, 2013, pp. 59-60.
[2] Miller, Michael J, and Benedict. Youcat English: Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. San Francisco, Calif: Ignatius Press, 2011.
[3] BibleGateway (online bible). https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Good-News-Translation-GNT-Bible/
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