What can we learn from one another if we have egos larger than ourselves? When we think that wisdom comes with age and experience and the young has nothing to offer us? How are we to bear with one another and forgive when we let our pride and hurts rule our hearts? Who are our enemies? In many cases it is members of our own families, the very people that are hardest to love and yet we must love them! And the greatest enemy in opposition to love is ourselves!
I am an enemy of love when I cannot bear the humility of carrying the cross for Jesus who hung on the cross for love of me. He forgave me my many heinous sins from the cross, yet would I choose to withhold forgiveness for those who have sinned against me? I am an enemy of love when I judge, condemn and drive people far away from me. I am an enemy of love when I bear false witness, gossip and plant seeds of despair. I am an enemy of love when I cannot love my enemies. And so if God is love and I choose not to love, then I am an enemy of God!
Lord Jesus have mercy one me for the many times I have chosen not to love and forgive. Have mercy Lord on all those who have sinned against me. Through your mercy, love and grace I choose to forgive them with all my heart. Teach me how to love as You love me and my brethren. Amen
First reading
Colossians 3:12-17
Be clothed in love
You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Gospel
Luke 6:27-38
Love your enemies
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’
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