Tuesday 17^th June – Tuesday of week 11 of the year

Reflection: Matthew 5: 43-48 

LOVE WITHOUT EXCLUSION

Love is an essential need of every human person- it matters not whether young or old, male or female, rich or poor, black or white; our hearts commonly yearn for love. This is so because man was created in love and for love. Little wonder all the commandments of God rest on the love of God and neighbour (Matthew 22: 35-40). The perfect expression of love was demonstrated by our Lord’s sacrificial death on the cross despite our unworthiness (Romans 5:6-8). This He did to redeem us and forever unite us with Himself. So love as a divine virtue is sacrificial, redemptive and unitive.

It is to these divine attributes (sacrifice, redemption and unity) of love we are called as Christians. That our love must find expression with all, irrespective of our differences; that there can be no meaningful love without sacrifice; that the love we propagate must promote the redemptive work of Christ in our neighbour and our very self, and ultimately unite us in and with God.

Beloved Brothers and Sisters, what are the excuses we give for excluding some from our love fold? Today our Lord Jesus Christ is asking us to abolish them, as none of these is sustainable in the light of His love for us. It is our preparedness to show “unmerited” love to our neighbour just as Christ has done to us that truly makes us Christian.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, even on the cross you prayed for your persecutors, help me love both friends and enemies just like you did; that my love may be sacrificial, redemptive and unitive. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 1825 – Christ died out of love for us, while we were still “enemies.” The Lord asks us to love as he does, even our enemies, to make ourselves the neighbour of those farthest away, and to love children and the poor as Christ himself.

HIDE A TREASURE: “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 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” Matthew 5: 44-45 RSV-CE

Readings for today: 1 King 21: 17-29; Psalms 51: 3-6, 11, 16; Matthew 5: 43-48