A WORD FOR TODAY 16 JUNE 2020

A WORD FOR TODAY

LOVE LIKE JESUS AND AIM FOR PERFECTION

"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."(Matthew 5:46-48)

Yesterday we reflected on the theme to pay back evil with good and Jesus in the gospel reading of today in continuation of His sermon on the mount tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This is a very difficult thing to do, but that is the best and one of the ways way we can show that we truly belong to Christ. Jesus Himself has shown us an example through His life and anyone who truly loves Him, must do as He did so as to be like Him.

To love Like Jesus we must be ready to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. We must not seek revenge, but always let God be the judge. We must be ready to forgive and let go, so that we may have peace of soul and live happily in this life for God and be able to enter into heaven on the last day.

If we claim to be Christians and we do not show love to others especially those who have offended us, then we are not truly Christians and we cannot answer that name. Jesus Christ whom we follow laid down His life for us and He forgave those who nailed Him on the cross. He did not pay us back evil with evil, but prayed to the Father to show us mercy. Therefore, if we want to be like Him, we must be ready to love our enemies and pray for them. When you show love to the person who have hurt you, you leave him or her in God's hand, and you will be rest assured that God will handle them better than you can. Infact, the love you show to them could move them to repentance and God will be happy for such persons repent so that they will be saved.

Bitterness and hatred has never done any good to the one who harbors them in the heart. When you are hurt, try as much as you can to forgive and let go, otherwise you will be hurting yourself the more, by seeking revenge or desiring to pay back people in their own coin.

To be perfect like our heavenly Father we must make extra effort to do good in this life and to love like God has loved us. He sent His Son to die for us while we were sinners, therefore, we must be willing to forgive those who have done us harm and through our love they will find their way back to God.

God will always fight for us as He did for Naboth in the first reading of today. Ahab and Jezebel took his land by force and killed him, but God rewarded them according to their deeds. Do not hold yourself in bondage because of what they have done to you, release yourself through forgiveness from their grip and you will keep shinning.

Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a beautiful day. May Jesus give you the grace to love others truly as He has loved you. Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: 1 kings 21:17-29/Psalm 51:3-6,11,16/Matthew 5:43-48

Watch-Word: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Never stop loving, even when you are hurt, because that is the best way you can show that you are like Jesus our Master.

(Tuesday of the 11th week in the ordinary time. Year II)