From the responsorial psalm: “Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 5:43-48, today’s readings)
“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 and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Jesus teaches the disciples that loving only those who love us is not enough. He calls all who follow him to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. This reflects the perfect love of the Father, who gives sunlight and rain to both the just and the unjust. If we love only those who love us, there is nothing extraordinary in that. Jesus calls us to a higher, seemingly impossible, standard of holiness, to love as God loves. He teaches us to “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” inviting us to strive for divine love in all our relationships. Although sinners, we are transformed by God’s grace, making it possible to love even our enemies through him and not by our own strength.
God, help me love as you love even when I see it as an impossible command. Teach me to see others as you see them with the gift of your mercy and compassion. Strengthen my heart to forgive, to pray for those who have hurt me, and to trust in your grace to perfect my love. I know that on my own, I will fall short but you make all things are possible. Jesus, I trust in You.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.