“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU” (Matt 5:44)

⏰Tuesday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time 1 (20 June 2023)

📖2 Cor 8:1-9; Ps 146:1b-2, 5-6ab, 6c-7, 8-9a (R.v.1b); Matt 5:43-48

My dear, in our reflection yesterday, we pointed out that one of our guiding principles in this new working week should be to shun revenge as Jesus taught us in Matt 5:38-42. However, Jesus wants us to do more than shunning revenge; he wants us to love those who hurt us and pray for them.

This is really a hard teaching for us in this age when “Back to Sender” is now a label of an anointing oil and “Holy Ghost Fire” is now an agent of destruction.

Jesus said that if we love our enemies and pray for those who hate us, we shall be sons of our Father who is in heaven. That is because God is not interested in the death of a sinner but that they may repent and live (Ezek 33:11). Hence, Jesus tells us to choose brotherly correction and forgiveness as better options than condemnation (cf. Matt 18:15-17).

In God, there is an abundance of life while destruction belongs to the evil one (cf. John 10:10). So I would think that the spirit that spurs one to cast and destroy his neighbour with “Holy Ghost Fire” should not be from God.

Like I said before, this would be a hard teaching for us in this age. But it is simply the TRUTH! Embrace it!

May God give us the grace to forgive our “presumed and real” enemies so that we may foster a kingdom of harmony and peace for God on earth. Amen.

Kindly remember our seminarians who would be writing their final degree exams in theology today in your prayers.

I wish you a lovely. Peace be with you.