“For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?” – Matthew 5:46

       This is one of my favorite Bible passages. To me, it’s a vital test to see if you are indeed a Christian.

       That’s why Pope Francis insists on loving the “unlovable” — those who cannot love you back, who are different from you, who caused you pain, or even persecuted you. Only then can you say that you love — that you are a Christian. Because that’s what Christ did! He died for sinners — for the unlovable.

       That’s why I deliberately pray for “my enemies” every day. No, I don’t pray that they be struck by lightning or that their houses burn. I pray that they may forgive me for the wrongs and the pain I’ve inflicted on them that caused me to become their “enemy.” And when I get the chance and the courage to meet them and say sorry, I do so as I too continue to forgive and love those who have wronged me.

       It’s not easy. But by God’s grace, it’s possible, especially if you call yourself a Christian. Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

Reflection:Think of someone who is most unlovable to you — a poor, dirty beggar or someone who has hurt you. Do something to love that person today… and be a Christian!

Dear Lord, I pray for (name that person) who has hurt me or who is so difficult to love. ByYour grace, I forgive and will show love to him/her today. Amen.

St. Conrad of Piacenza, pray for us.

Jesus’ message of universal love dates back to the commandment to love our neighbor. We find the seeds of this truth in the New Testament within the heart of the Old Testament. This challenges us to obey God’s call to love. When we are hardpressed by circumstances or people, do we choose to love or hate?

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. 17 “You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen, do not incur sin because of him. 18 Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

R: The Lord is kind and merciful.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R)3 He pardons all your iniquities; he heals all your ills. 4 He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. (R)8 Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. 10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (R)12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. (R)

St. Paul reminds us that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. Do our words, thoughts and deeds reflect this, or do we need further conversion to God? Jesus forgave those who crucified Him. Can you love as deeply as He did?

16 Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. 18 Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool so as to become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: God catches the wise in their own ruses, 20 and again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21 So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, 22 Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, 23 and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

Jesus’ approach to the Law is very different from that of the Pharisees. He wants the Law to draw us into a closer relationship with Him and not just be a series of “dos” and “don’ts.” This invites us into a relationship based on love. What sort of relationship with God do you want to have – one based on love or on fear and judgment?

Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.

38 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. 40 If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. 41 Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. 43 “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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. 46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 48 So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

think: Do you strive to love those who are difficult to love?

Read the Bible in one year Ephesians 4-6

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

When I entered the seminary in 1978, every time we had our night prayers by the grotto of the Blessed Mother, one invocation that would echo from our prayers was this: “Make us saints.” With this prayerful invocation, we were reminded: We were not simply to aspire to be priests, religious brothers, Pauline religious working in the specific apostolate of media as inspired by Blessed James Alberione. We were, and we are, called to live in holiness: to be saints... and to be Saints.

       The Church, in truth, states in the document of Vatican Council II that there is but one call for all, in whatever way of life we are in. We are all called to holiness, for God is holy, and we are all made in God’s image and likeness. Holiness is our perfection in God.

       Today, Jesus reveals to us that perfection means a “heroic life in the practice of virtues.” Heroic, because the world is more inclined to attract us to the easy path of sin and vices. Heroic, because to be human is to be prone to live in compromise with what is convenient, pleasurable and popular. Heroes are brave to stand for their convictions and beliefs, even to the point of martyrdom.

     The heart of Christian perfection is heroism in charity. Above all, charity for the undeserving, for the enemies, for the persecutors. This means never giving up as personal channels of God’s grace and blessings for those who are eaten up by the evil of cruelty, violence, vengeance, hatred and rebellion. This means to be never ending in patience, kindness, forgiveness and compassion for others. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

In a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate your endurance for personal experiences of being persecuted, rejected, marginalized and ostracized? What was so far your worst experience in line with these? How about including “Make us saints” in your daily prayerful aspirations?