Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:43-48

43 "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Jesus tells us, "You have heard it 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." Now why would God ask us to love our enemy. It's just not fair. If someone is mean to me, why can't I be mean back? If someone makes fun of me, why can't I make fun of them? It's really rather simple – where does the retaliation stop. Eventually, strong words become sticks and sticks become stones and before you know it, whole families and sometimes communities end up hating one another. God has given us many graces; one special grace given to all of us is the grace to forgive. Love is the fire extinguisher which puts out the fire of our enemy. Kindness and mercy will always triumph over evil. God commands us to be loving and to love our enemies. When we sin against God, are we no better than our enemies? And yet God forgives us and continues to pour out his love for us. If God can forgive us, then we must forgive and love our enemies if we are to image God. It is difficult to forgive an enemy, but it is also the most rewarding thing you can do. Try it, you'll like it. You definitely feel better.

A Simple Prayer

Most Heavenly Father, I have a temper, please help me control it.

When my tongue is loose, please help me restrain it.

Give me the strength to love my enemy as you love me.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon