OUR GOD=IS CHALLENGING US
Today’s readings=are
CHALLENGING US=to love others
Who it is
NOT CONVENIENT=for us to LOVE
Even when=they don’t love us back
That is=WHAT
We are supposed to do
It is called Agape’ LOVE
OUR GOD=IS CHALLENGING US
“You shall=NOT BEAR HATRED=
For your brother or sister
IN your heart”
Leviticus 19:17
In the first reading today=
The Lord INSTRUCTS MOSES
That the Israelite people
Must not hate=their brothers and sisters
“CHERISH NO GRUDGE
Against any of your people=You
Shall LOVE your neighbor=as yourself”
Leviticus 19:18
And in today’s Gospel=
Jesus EXPANDS our awareness
Even further
He asks us to GO FURTHER
And to love
And PRAY FOR ENEMIES=
For those who PERSECUTE US
What a difficult teaching
OUR LORD=IS CHALLENGINS US!
“But I tell you=
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES=and
PRAY for those=WHO PERSECUTE YOU”
Matthew 5:44
Take a long look AROUND=
I DON’T SEE
Many people doing this
We have BROKEN FAMILIES
Brother hating sister=broken COMMUNITIES
And a DIVIDED COUNTRY=
People who PUT their political views
ABOVE=love of God
Above love of neighbor=and love OF THEIR COUNTRY
YOU KNOW= I am right
Take a look around
OUR LORD=IS CHALLENGING US
To go the EXTRA MILE
God is challenging us
To PRAY for those=who DISAGREE with us
Who really don’t like us
“Do not gloat=
When your ENEMY FALLS=
When they stumble=do NOT let your heart rejoice”
Proverbs 24:17
“If your ENEMY=is hungry
Give them food to eat=
If he is thirsty=give him water
To drink=in doing that
You will heap burning coals
On his head
And the Lord=will reward you”
Proverbs 25:21-22
BELIEVE ME=dear friends
I KNOW=how difficult that this is
But JOIN ME TODAY
In PRAYING for them
Who really don’t like us
USE JESUS as your example!
In Jesus’ name=and in the name of our EVER FORGIVING=ever
loving=Holy Father God!
Robert P. Wallman
2-18-2023
Ps INSPIRED by
a article=IN LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE=by Greg Erlandson
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