Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 5, 43-48

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Forgiveness

1. The world. As believers, we know we’re often at odds with what the world puts out there. Take a moment to look around; it’s clear we live in a competitive world, almost like the law of the jungle. But what we’re really looking for is peace.

2. Love and Pray. What Jesus asks of us here is tough, I won’t deny it. There are people who hurt us and wound us deeply. But it’s about loving and praying. Of course, it’s a challenging process and a profound inner struggle, a battle against oneself and within oneself.

3. Our Identity. As Christians, we’re called to contemplate the cross, to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, and even to embrace our own personal “way of the cross”. Where there’s no love, we bring love, and we draw love out.

Remember that something good is on the way.

God bless you and protect you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.