“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.” (MT 5: 44-45)
To be called “children of your heavenly Father” includes not only an amazing honor but also some responsibilities: we need to change the way we think from this world’s perspective to Our Lord’s perspective; His love is total, with no exceptions, no limits and no conditions: “love one another as I have loved you.”
“I give you a new commandment; love one another as I have loved you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.” (MT 5: 39-41)
We have our habits, our solutions, and our traditions, like “An eye for an eye” or “tooth for a tooth.” Our Lord came to change our world and give us a civilization of love. We can change our world and “one who is evil” only when we love and we listen to Our Lord and when His teaching will be “a lamp to our feet and light to our path.”
“A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 COR 5: 9-10)
We are loved and we want to answer His love in the most beautiful way: “we aspire to please him.” When we love, we want to do everything for the loved person, “whether we are at home or away.” This is natural for love–that we think more about our beloved than about ourselves.
“The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live forever.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.” (MT 5: 37)
It is popular, in these days, to be a “yes, but. . .” person. “Are you catholic?” – “Yes, but I do not agree with the teaching against (abortion, contraception, lifelong marriages, etc.).” Our Lord’s teaching is simple: “let your “yes” mean ‘yes.’” Nothing more.
“Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees; and favor me with your law.” (Gospel Acclamation
“A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake— but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire— but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.” (1 KGS 19: 11-12)
Our Lord’s presence in our homes is like “a tiny whispering sound.” Jesus is very delicate and humble; He respects our dignity and freedom, He comes to give not to take, He comes to build n0t to destroy.
“Shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (MT 5: 23-24)
God, Who is love and Who is living as a Trinity, can’t accept our gifts when we are in conflict with our brothers. Reconciliation is always the first step in relationship.
“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” (Gospel Acclamation
“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (MT 5: 23-24)
God, Who is love and Who is living as a Trinity, can’t accept our gifts when we are in conflict with our brothers. Reconciliation is always the first step in relationship.
“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” (MT 5: 19)
“Obeys and teaches” is not only about priests or nuns, it is also about every father and every mother. Daily life is full of opportunities to make God’s word real and present at home. Like the commandments are about love and respect, so also our homes are about love and respect.
“Teach me your paths, my God, and guide me in your truth.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.” (ACTS 11: 23-24)
Barnabas “was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith,” so it was easier for him to see God’s presence in the world: “when he arrived” he “saw the grace of God.” The more we are listening to Our Lord’s words, the more we pray, the more we can see “the grace of God” in every moment of our lives and in every situation.
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)
“When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.” (ACTS 11: 23-24)
Barnabas “was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith,” so it was easier for him to see God’s presence in the world: “when he arrived” he “saw the grace of God.” The more we are listening to Our Lord’s words, the more we pray, the more we can see “the grace of God” in every moment of our lives and in every situation.
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)
