Readings:
I - 2 Cor. 8:1-9
II - Mt. 5:43-48
PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES
The paradoxical yet practical preaching of Jesus proposes to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Is it possible to love and pray for those who offend, scoff, revile, falsely accuse, spread rumors, gossip and drag our name in vain to the point of making our life difficult and disastrous? Jesus is our model par excellence in this regard who forgave even His executioners.
We do have exemplary people even in this era following this teaching to inspire and encourage besides being a witness to Christian living. It is easy to hate those who hate us but challenging to love and pray for them. Hate for hate can by practiced by anyone but it is in loving everyone beyond our likes and dislikes, friends and foes, whims and fancies can we imitate our Father in Heaven and claim ourselves to be children of God the Father. In the silence of our hearts let us pray: “Lord Jesus fill my heart with your love”.
