Do we only love those who are from the same country, nation or religion? Do we love exclusively? We are called to love in spite of, despite of… yet isn’t it too hard? Isn’t it too difficult to love those who have wronged us? To love those who have hurt us terribly? To love those who persecute us?
Yet is it not true that we hope and pray, even expect God to love us in spite of….despite of…to love us regardless?
Who is our greatest role model on love? Is it not our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ? He who was tortured, spat upon, taunted, nailed, hung on a cross and yet forgave us from that very cross we hung Him?
We do Not pray for evildoers who commit atrocities for fun or evil’s sake but why do we pray for those who persecute us? Why did Saint Stephen pray for those who stoned him? Isn’t it because his persecutors have yet to have known Christ? Isn’t it true that we sometimes persecute others because we have not yet come to faith or were rash in doing so?
We through our sufferings and struggles can be perfected in Christ so that we too can love as God loves us and be merciful as God our Father is merciful towards us. Only then can we be assured; when we cry out to our Heavenly Father, “Forgive us our trespassers as we forgive those who have trespass against us.” Amen
GOSPEL
Matthew 5:43–48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour 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.
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