dawn

june 14, 2005

Love Your NeighborMt 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."
Love your enemies. God is merciful. Everyone is to be loved. The unlovables or those who seem the most difficult to love are also ones I am called to love. I am to pray for my enemies with love for them. God has been so good and merciful to me in my own life. I am grateful for all that I have been given. As God has given freely to me, I am to give freely to others. It is harder when the person is a persecutor or an enemy of sorts but all judgement is God's not mine.

It is a reading that today is very appropriate for what I am living with currently in my own situation. I find it amazing how many times that the daily reading is so perfect for what I need for that particular day. I begin the day praying for a heart that is light and open giving freely to others today.