This command of Jesus will test us in the depth of our hearts! Yet when we love our enemies we grow as disciples and become more and more like the Lord, who graces us with God’s love so we can put this teaching into daily practice.
St. Paul shows how the sacrifice of Jesus Christ makes reconciliation possible in our world. As disciples of the Lord, we are called to be ambassadors – agents of healing – who help continue the Lord’s saving mission to reconcile people to God and one another.
St. Paul reminds us that we hold a treasure from God in our fragile, human hands. As disciples of Jesus Christ we always recognize two issues: on one hand we are inheritors of God’s glory; on the other hand we are weak and prone to sin. May we accept God’s grace and allow the Lord to touch our lives with his healing love.
Jesus makes it clear in today’s Gospel reading (part of the Sermon on the Mount) that reconciliation is a non-negotiable aspect of Christian Life. Who do we need to reconcile with today? How can we take the first step in putting the Lord’s command into practice?
St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, reminding them that our confidence lies in Christ who qualifies us for ministry. Whatever we face today, may we turn to the Lord for the strength and grace we need.
Jesus reminds us that we are salt and light – disciples called to live our faith in the world – so that when people see our good deeds they will give praise to our Heavenly Father. May we offer our lives today, trusting that the Lord will take our offering and bless it with grace to continue Christ’s mission in the world.
As Jesus confronts the devil in the wilderness, his response to three temptations shows us how we can face the deceptions of evil in our lives with courage, faith and wisdom.
St. Peter’s words “we have given up everything and followed you” can inspire us to consider how we offer our lives for the Lord. Recognizing that everything we have comes from God, we begin to see ourselves as stewards, not owners, who offer our lives for the glory of the one who made us.
The Lord’s advice is both practical and spiritual. How do we know the secret of our hearts? We examine how we respond: under pressure, alone and with a subordinate…and we learn what’s really happening on the inside.
The Lord’s words are beautiful and moving: “Let the children come to me! Do not prevent them!” May we remove all obstacles and provide every opportunity to let our children come to know Jesus Christ.