Reflection for March 4, Saturday of the First Week of Lent: Matthew 5:43-48

Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was 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, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.  

For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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Reflection:

What is the supreme act of love? It’s the willingness to die for the one that we love. What is the next supreme act of love? It’s to love even those who are not lovable to our eyes. It’s to continuously keep the flame of love alive for a person who does nothing but hurt us.  

But are we capable of following this radical love commandment of Jesus? It’s very hard to love the person who hates us. Take for example a spouse who does nothing but hurt us. How can you love him/her? If you only gaze our sights on this world it’s really difficult to love in such a situation.  

But we are not only made for this world, God created us not only for this world alone. He created us to become a permanent dweller of heaven eventually. Therefore, we have to love even those who do not love us. We have to pray as well for those who do nothing but hurt us.  

What will happen to your spouse if you continue to love him/her even if he/she doesn’t express his/her love for you? What would happen if you never give up and continue to pray for his/her conversion? He/she will eventually see the light of Jesus and be enlightened by it. For this is the miracle that Jesus gives to those who continue to have faith in Him.  

This is what awaits those who never give up on love and the power of prayer. And this is the miracle that Jesus gives to those who never waiver on praying to Him.  

Do you easily give up on love?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas