Daily Reflection – Feb 19, 2017

Sunday 19 February 2017

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18
Responsorial Psalm:
The Lord is kind and merciful
Psalm 102(103):1-4, 8, 10, 12-13
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:38-48

Today’s Note: Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Reading:

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand over your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

“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 only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Reflection:

Love your enemies. (Matthew 5:44)

Can you picture getting to heaven, and the first person you meet is the one you liked least on earth? It’s possible. After all, God loves that person just as much as he loves you. We should never presume to know how he judges each person.

No one falls outside the scope of God’s loving intentions, either. What God wants for you here on earth is what he also wants for your aggravating neighbor. It’s also what he wants for history’s worst tyrants—that they “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

Here’s another surprise: your enemy can help you move closer toward that goal of perfection. Notice that Jesus’ command to be perfect appears right after he explains how to treat the people who hate us: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). So if you want to be perfect, you begin by loving your enemies.

Are you thinking, “This is too much”? Of course it is! It’s beyond human powers—or it would be, if Jesus hadn’t suffered and died for us.

Try to cooperate with the Lord today. Think about the people you should be loving more than you do—and not just your “enemies.” Think too about the people you take for granted, look down on, or consider undeserving. Instead of harboring spiteful or judgmental thoughts, say a short prayer for someone who provokes you.

What if you have stronger emotions? When you find yourself dwelling on people who have hurt you or people you don’t like or people with whom you have strong disagreements, stop yourself, and start praying for them.

Start with the people you live and work with. Pay attention to the thoughts that cross your mind, especially angry or hateful ones. Don’t harbor them! Instead, take advantage of every invitation to love. Then the perfection of God will begin to shine out from you.

“Father, help me to love, not hate. Help me to take another step toward the perfection you want for me.”