A WORD FOR TODAY 23 FEBRUARY 2020

A WORD FOR TODAY

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF

To be Holy in the eyes of the Lord is not just about separating oneself from the world and living in isolation. It goes deeper than mere avoiding evil. If we are going to be Holy as God has laid down for us we must primarily be known as children of love, because you cannot be holy if you do not have love in your heart to share with others.

The Lord said to Moses in the first reading of today from the book of Leviticus to tell the people to be holy, because God himself is holy. This holiness will be seen in what they do and in the way they treat others. you shall love your neighbour as yourself and should not bear grudges against them.

As God's temple we have the obligation to be holy in words and deeds. We must not let our hearts be filled with dirty words, instead we should fill it with good and holy words which will inspire those who hear us and when they encounter us and experience our goodness, they will in turn give praise to God who uses us as instruments to bless others.

Jesus instructs us in the gospel reading to take our love to a higher level. In this level of loving, Agape is the watch-word. We must love those who hurt us and do good to them, we must seek their highest good. We must not pay back evil with evil and we must not practise an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth. This, ordinarily will be difficult to practise as human beings, but anyone who wants to follow Jesus in sincerity, must be ready to do it, because Jesus Himself has left us that example to follow.

People can offend us, yes, and we should not condone evil or ignore it, instead in applying discipline in our response, it must not be done with the intention of revenge, but that of love, forgiveness and mercy. We must make the person who hurt us to change and become better through our response with love. Mahathma Ghandi once said, "if all of us were to practise the 'eye for an eye rule' the world would soon be blind and toothless".

Jesus is giving us today a new law in which we must never pay back evil with evil, but with good and love. If you are hurt more, then you must love more and you will be like Jesus who laid down his life and bled for those who hurt Him to be saved.

Do not waste the energy you will use to do good to hate your brother or sister. Hatred and quest for revenge saps your spiritual energy and make you sick. Therefore, Love your enemies and you will not be sick in the heart, your face will radiate God's glory and you will be the best for God and for humanity. The world needs more love than bitterness and anger, hatred and revenge, resentment and vengeance. Show and share more love even in the face of hateful words and actions from people and your light will shine and God will be glorified._

Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you begin your day and do have splendid and blessed Sunday. May Jesus give the grace to love those who hurt you and may your response with make them to change. Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: Leviticus 19:1-2,17-18/Psalm 103:1-4,8,10,12-13/1 Corinthians 3:16-23/Matthew 5:38-48

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

Never pay back evil with evil and you will have the confidence to stand before Jesus who did not pay back evil with evil.

(Seventh Sunday of the Year in the Ordinary Time, Cycle A)