Love Our Enemies
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Mt 5:43-48 “Love of Enemies“
March 16, 2019 | Saturday
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 and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Today’s Reflection
When is the last time that we forgive our neighbor for doing some terrible things in our life that truly ruins our way of living and even our loved ones? Indeed, it is easy to love a person that makes our heart lighter than a person that you do not trust and eventually may betray you. In the gospel, Jesus compels us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Love is not only about happy moments, sharing goods and serene relationship but also opening our hearts to be wounded, to be exposed to pains and trials in life. A genuine love cannot be measured but rather felt within ourselves and it is like giving until it hurts. As God makes his sun rise and give rain to both wicked and good, just and unjust, we are challenged to lay down our hands for those who truly needs our care, to some persons who are longing for a sense of belongingness and those people who will listen to the aches of their hearts. Sometimes, we should ask ourselves, who is my enemy? Then you will see different faces that in some ways felt you sad, distress and anger; as you look deeper you will see that our worst enemy is our own self- “I” who gave an impression to other person, who gave judgment and misinterpretation in a certain situation and “I” who haven’t given a person or even myself a chance to change for the betterment of lives. God loved us even in our wickedness, unfaithfulness and selfishness and always giving us a chance to become better every day. We should strive to begin to listen,
