“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)

Our dignity and our new identity, “children of our heavenly Father,” directs us only to two simple things: to love and to pray. These are simple directions, although extremely challenging: “love your enemies” and “pray for those who persecute you” because Our Lord “makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.”

“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.” (MT 5: 41-42)

Our perfection, which God expects from us, shouldn’t be based on perfect actions, but rather on perfect relationships. All the examples given today by our Lord redirect our thinking from how to protect our status or position to how to be closer to others, how to be more a gift of self rather than a demander.

“A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.” (GAL 2: 19-20)

Unconditionally loved by God, “crucified with Christ,” and united with Him, “I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.” All my life I dedicate to Him; my actions and missions come from His call, and whatever good I did or do, it happens because “He has loved me and given himself up for me.” Still I am a sinner, but redeemed and loved.

“God loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (ACTS 13: 2) 

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting,” the Holy Spirit was able to ask them to “set apart for Him Barnabas and Saul for the work to which He has called them.” Two things were needed—“worshiping and fasting” and the apostles being ready-to-send. All of us are invited “for the work to which the Holy Spirit has called us”: different missions, but the same Caller, different tasks, but the same love.

“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. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.” (1 KGS 19: 11-12)

Elijah escaped from the persecution and founded shelter in the mountains, expecting to “stand on the mountain before the LORD” when the “LORD will be passing by.” The LORD was not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but He was in a “tiny whispering sound.” “When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.” It is much easier for us to answer to a “light silent sound” and much easier to recognize in this sound a friendly presence.  Our LORD always brings “the word of life” in the most friendly way.

“Shine like lights on the world, as you hold on to the word of life.” 

“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)

The fulfillment of the law is love, so when we bring a “gift to the altar” and my “brother has anything against me,” it is more important to “go first and be reconciled with my brother, and then come and offer my gift.” There is no true relationship with God when there is no true relationship with my brother—“love one another as I have loved you.”

“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things by your command. Answer me, LORD! Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back to you.” (1 KGS 18: 36-37)

God always calls us closer and closer to Him, taking care of our relationship, protecting it and helping us to grow. When our hearts are busy and occupied by many daily things, He can “turn our hearts back to Him.” It could be by retreats, by daily Mass or daily readings, or even just by a few minutes of adoration or a simple thought about Him.

“Teach me your paths, my God, and guide me in your truth.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (MT 5: 16) 

“Salt losing its taste” and “light hidden” are in opposition to our role in the world. We are responsible to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” As couples or singles, young or mature, we have our mission—to bring good taste and light to this world so that people can “glorify our heavenly Father.”

“Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“Leave here, go east and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan. You shall drink of the stream, and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.” (1 KGS 17: 3-4)

 God takes care of us in many different ways: “you shall drink of the stream, and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.” There is no problem for God, creator of all, to protect us and keep us alive. When we follow God’s will and when we do what is God’s command, He will answer to all our needs. He expects from us only to trust Him.

“Rejoice and be glad; for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

“But when God, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.” (Gal 1: 15-16)

Loved from the beginning of our lives and called “from my mother’s womb,” we are on our missions—to “proclaim Him to the Gentiles” of our times and our places. He always takes care of us, always protects us and is always among us in the Eucharist, the sacraments and in His Church.

“A great prophet has risen in our midst God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation)