GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 5:43-4843 "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Meditation: What makes the disciples of Jesus different
from others and what makes Christianity distinct from any other
religion? It is grace - treating others, not as they
deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated - with
loving-kindness, forbearance, and mercy. God is good to the unjust
as well as the just. His love embraces saint and sinner alike. God
seeks our highest good and teaches us to seek the greatest good of
others, even those who hate and abuse us.
Overcome evil with good
Our love for others, even those who are ungrateful and selfish
towards us, must be marked by the same kindness and mercy which
God has shown to us. It is easier to show kindness and mercy when
we can expect to benefit from doing so. How much harder when we
can expect nothing in return. Our prayer for those who do us ill
both breaks the power of revenge and releases the power of love to
do good in the face of evil.
Christ's redeeming love and mercy frees us from all hatred
and malice towards others
How can we possibly love those who cause us harm or ill-will? With
God all things are possible. He gives power and grace to those who
believe and accept the gift of the Holy Spirit. His love conquers
all, even our hurts, fears, prejudices and griefs. Only the cross
of Jesus Christ can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred,
revenge, and resentment and gives us the courage to return evil
with good. Such love and grace has power to heal and to save from
destruction. Do you know the power of Christ's redeeming love and
mercy?
Allow the Holy Spirit to change and transform the way you
think, judge, and treat others
Was Jesus exaggerating when he said we must be perfect as our
heavenly Father is perfect? The original meaning of
"perfect" in Aramaic is "completeness" or "wholeness - not lacking
in what is essential." God gives us every good gift in Jesus
Christ so that we may not lack anything we need to do his will and
to live as his sons and daughters (2 Peter 1:3). He knows our
weakness and sinfulness better than we do. And he assures us of
his love, mercy, and grace to follow in his ways. Do you want to
grow in your love for God and for your neighbor? Ask the Holy
Spirit to change and transform you in the image of the Father that
you may walk in the joy and freedom of the Gospel.
Lord Jesus, your love brings freedom and pardon. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and set my heart ablaze with your love that nothing may make me lose my temper, ruffle my peace, take away my joy, nor make me bitter towards anyone.
Psalm 146:1-2, 5-10
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have being.
5 Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith for ever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the sojourners, he upholds the widow and the fatherless; but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign for ever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Pray for those who persecute you, by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.
"For neither did Christ simply command to love but to pray. Do you see how many steps he has ascended and how he has set us on the very summit of virtue? Mark it, numbering from the beginning. A first step is not to begin with injustice. A second, after one has begun, is not to vindicate oneself by retaliating in kind. A third, to refuse to respond in kind to the one who is injuring us but to remain tranquil. A fourth, even to offer up one's self to suffer wrongfully. A fifth, to give up even more than the wrongdoer wishes to take. A sixth, to refuse to hate one who has wronged us. A seventh, even to love such a one. An eighth, even to do good to that one. A ninth, to entreat God himself on our enemy's behalf. Do you perceive how elevated is a Christian disposition? Hence its reward is also glorious. (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 18.4)
