TRUE PEACE

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:15

Someone once said, “Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, chaos, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart.”

One of the rarest responses to any difficult situation is a calm and gentle reply. When we are angry, scared, or hurt, we often raise our voices, say things we would never usually mean or even become violent in our defense.

Then, after all has been said and done, the second wave of emotion overwhelms us—regret for our actions, shame, and guilt, or perhaps the resistance to forgive. But all of that could have been avoided from the very beginning had we only allowed ourselves to settle our inner burning fires before thinking of the best way to respond with a clear and composed mind.

There is no way that you can live in harmony with others if you do not learn to achieve harmony within yourself first. True peace can only come from Jesus. It is from Him and through His strength that we can make our response a signal of peace even when our human nature would normally react otherwise. Eleanore Teo (elyo.lee@gmail.com)

Reflect: Do you usually respond more with your heart, with your mind, or a combination of both?

Our Father, You have dealt with my sins with a loving, understanding hand. Give me the wisdom and the patience to do the same—with myself and others.

St. Ailbhe, pray for us.

Paul exhorts the Colossians to give witness to the love of God. Whatever they do in Jesus’ name should be infused with His love. Similarly, we should give witness to the transforming power of God’s love. This is difficult to do when we are in conflict with someone, but this is where the Gospel really counts. Jesus exhorts us to love both our enemies and friends.

Colossians 3:12-17

12 Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. 14 And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one Body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Psalm 150:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!

1 Praise the Lord in his sanctuary, praise him in the firmament of his strength. 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds, praise him for his sovereign majesty. (R) 3 Praise him with the blast of the trumpet, praise him with lyre and harp, 4 praise him with timbrel and dance, praise him with strings and pipe. (R) 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals, praise him with clanging cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Alleluia. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus tells us to love our enemies. This is one of the scandalous aspects of the Gospel. Jesus does not allow us to hate anyone. We must choose to love all people. This is a radical change from the “eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” principle practiced by other religions. For Christians, Jesus emphasizes the power of love to forgive and He demands that we walk that path.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. 

Luke 6:27-38

27 Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. 35 But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful. 37 “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. 38 Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

think: Jesus forgave the very people who nailed Him to the cross. Who is He asking you to forgive today? How do you let that person feel your forgiveness?

______________________________    

______________________________   

 

Read the Bible in one year - Psalm 91-95

 

 

LOVE ALONE

Today’s Gospel is all about how to love. It says, “Love your enemies; do good to them, and forgive them.” This kind of love is extraordinary. It does not only wait for the other to affirm the love you have; it suggests to love the unlovable.

This is the summary of all His commandments. This is not optional. In fact, you cannot avoid it, no matter how much you contain it. It is built in our nature. If you contain love, if you do not love, you destroy yourself, you go against human nature. Why? Because we are made in God’s image. The more we want to be like God, the more we will love because God is love.

Albert Einstein says, “Love is power, because it multiplies the best we have, and allows humanity not to be extinguished in their blind selfishness. This force explains everything and gives meaning to life. This is the variable that we have ignored for too long, maybe because we are afraid of love because it is the only energy in the universe that man has not learned to drive at will.”

Love has a regenerative power that makes the old ones continue to feel young. Love can stretch your capability to suffer. Even if one has to love the other from a distance, love can do that because the mark of a genuine love is sacrifice. Even if one has to keep away from her beloved to preserve the other, love can also do that.

You have the power to love, use it. You may have everything in life, but as St. Paul says, “If you do not have love, you are only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” You are nothing.

St. John of the Cross says, “In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.” Fr. Haluendo Amit, OCD

------- REFLECTION QUESTION -------

Who is God calling you to love most at this time?

Teach me to love like You do, dearest Lord. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________