Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Matthew 5: 43-48

June 16, 2026 | Tuesday

Today’s Gospel 

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt has lost its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It has become useless. It can only be thrown away and people will trample on it. 

You are the light of the world. A city built on a mountain cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and covers it; instead, it is put on a lampstand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, your light must shine before others, so that they may see the good you do, and praise your Father in heaven.

You have heard, that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy. But this I tell you: love your enemies; and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good; and he gives rain to both the just and the unjust.

If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not even tax collectors do as much? And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that? Do not even the pagans do as much? As for you, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 Today’s Reflection

Ordinarily, enemies are not supposed to be loved or even be noticed. They are put aside. Jesus’ approach, however, contrasts human nature which always seeks to retaliate and hate. He says that if we long to be God’s children, we must love our enemies. How is that so? Loving our enemies does not just require a great amount of patience but also the humility to recognize God in each person. God is with us. He dwells in each of us, including our enemies. When we recognize God in them, we would see no excuse to not do what is right for them. This is a difficult task, but Jesus clarifies that this is the way for us to be perfected in charity, just as our heavenly Father is perfect. Let us continuously pray for love and humility that we may see God in everyone.

/Vulnerasti, 2026