St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774 – 1821)
First reading – 1 John 3:7-10
“In this way we distinguish the children of God from the children of the devil: anybody not living a holy life and not loving his brother is no child of God’s”. The difference between the children of God and the children of devil is this: “not living a holy life and not loving his brother”. The lack of a holy life and lack of a love towards his brother. Both are totally interconnected and not separated ones. When you have a holy life, it is easy to love your brother. Or better said, when you have a holy life, you will love your brother. In this sense, let’s think the other side: when I cannot love my brother, I am not living a holy life. When I cannot love my brother for any reason, I must improve in my holy life. Normally, when we cannot love our brother or sister, we say, “he or she must behave different”. But according to the reading of today, when we cannot love my brother or sister, it is not him or her that must change but I must grow in holy life. This is a whole new perspective. Let’s reflect: What in me must change to love my brother or sister?