Peace to all this Tuesday of the 11th week of ordinary time!
Love! Love! Love!
It’s a Love-In!
This is what Jesus is asking us to do in today’s gospel. To love! Not just those we like, but those we don’t like!
You don’t have to like everyone, but Jesus asks us to love everyone. To like is one thing, to love is another.
Sometimes, it’s hard to love someone I don’t like. Maybe they get on my nerves. Maybe they don’t like me. Whatever it is, we are commanded, yes, commanded by Jesus to love! Sometimes we have to force ourselves.
Little children have it easy in this regard. For a child, they don’t know what it means to hate until they see grown-ups do it.
So, we must not let our love disappear, and let hate take over! Love your enemies as you love your neighbor, yourself and your God! Amen!
Scripture:
“Then the Lord said, “Have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself before me? Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his time.” (1 Kings 21)
“Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt.” (Psalm 51)
“I give you a new commandment; love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13)
“Love your enemies. Your heavenly Father makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. So be perfect , just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5)
A Personal Reflection by Fr. Brian:
Growing up in the 1960’s, it was a generation that desperately wanted to love and be loved. But, so much was going on in the world around us, especially as the decade rolled on, that people looked for love in some good ways and in some bad ways.
In many respects, things haven’t changed much. We are still looking for love and the capacity to love. It is a fundamental need of all humans. We all need to be loved and we all need to love. It is essential for our well-being and health.
If I can love myself first, then I can love God even more and my neighbor even more and my enemies even more!
May you learn to love more and more as Jesus commands us to do!
Blessings, pono and pule!
Fr. Brian Guerrini, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai