Tuesday, June 19, 2018
TODAY'S REFLECTION - TUESDAY-11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
St. Romuald, abbot, religious founder
1 Kings 21:17-29/Psalm 50:3-6,11,16/ Matthew 5:43-48
LOVE YOUR ENEMY AND PRAY FOR YOUR PERSECUTORS
Beloved, today's first reading is a continuation of how Naboth was unfortunately murdered and King Ahab took over his vineyard. The Lord told the prophet Elijah to confront Ahab. God in his mercy gave Ahab the chance to repent. God is not interested in the death of the sinner, instead, that the sinner should repent. One may ask, where was God when all that was planned to kill Naboth? Why should God allow Naboth to be murdered before intervening? God knows best. Why should I know and forcefully and wickedly shed innocent blood only to be sorry later? No matter who you are and for whatever reason, it is not right to kill someone and takeover his or her property.
Friends, Jesus, in our today's Gospel reading teaches us about the deepest form of love. That we should love without discrimination. That, we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, to prove that we are children of God. That, we should be perfect because God is perfect. That, we should be conscious of all that God is doing for all humanity: good and bad alike. Jesus was hated, maltreated and killed. He died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8-9). Jesus expects us to imitate him and go the extra mile, which others will not think of doing.
Let us pray for all those who have suffered or are still suffering because of the selfishness and wickedness of others. Let us pray for a total conversion of all sinners. Let us pray for the grace to show love where there is hatred, enmity and persecution. BE BLESSED
Fr. Gaa (0206854323/0240308878)