Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48
(Jesus said to his disciples) 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.
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Reflection:
Would you love your enemy?
One of the most difficult actions to do is to love our enemy or to love
those who’ve hurt us, those who continue to do no good to us and those who
continue to hurt us. For example how could you love your unfaithful spouse? How
could you love someone whose been making life so difficult for you?
Indeed, these kinds of people are very hard to love much less forgive.
But on the other hand, who are we not to love and forgive them? And who are we
to focus on hatred instead of love?
Why don’t we try loving those who are hurting us, why don’t we try to
eliminate whatever hatred in our hearts?
The moment we love those who hurt us, the moment we forgive and the
moment we eliminate hatred in our hearts. We become free from the bondage of
the Devil and we free ourselves from any form of negative, evil and hurtful
emotions.
Jesus loves us all whoever we are and whatever sins we have committed. This
infinite love of Jesus is always there for us.
However, we are also aware that there is hell. There is the kingdom of
the devil wherein those who do no good and those who continue to refuse the love
of Jesus are destined to dwell. – Marino J. Dasmarinas