TUESDAY OF THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS

Gospel Mt 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 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. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." REFLECTION

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was one of Jesus' greatest advocates for "loving your enemies." And Dr. King actually practiced what he preached and gave practical advice on how to "love your enemies."

I attended a PAPA Retreat and our retreat master gave us some practical ideas to avoid getting angry or upset with others. He gave us 7 “Tongue-Guarding” questions to examine ourselves to discern “When should I get upset?"

SELF REFLECTION

1. Was I mean first?

2. If I was not mean to them but they still act mean to me,

Was I mean to them unintentionally?

3. If I was not mean to them unintentionally, then

Was I good to them?

4. If I was not mean to them "unintentionally" and I treated them good, but they are still mean to me, then,

"Was I TRULY good to them?

5. If I was not mean to them "unintentionally" and treated them good, and truly good, but they are still mean to me, then

"Was I good to them WHOLE-HEARTEDLY?"

6. If I was not mean to them "unintentionally" and I treated them good, truly good and wholeheartedly good, then

"Was there any misunderstanding?"

7. If I was not mean to them "unintentionally" and I treated them good, truly good, and

wholeheartedly good then and there was NO MISUNDERSTANDING.

"Should I get upset now?" No! There is no need to get upset.

PRAY FOR THESE THREE NEEDS:

1. Lord Jesus, You are a patient man: give me your PATIENCE to wait for the right moment and opportunity to confront the person.

2. Lord Jesus, You are wisdom: give me your WISDOM to know what to say and how to say it.

3. Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace: when the opportunity avails itself, give me your PEACE to confront the person and ask: WHY?

ACTION

Follow the Lord's Will.

Our retreat master, Father Michael J. Truongluan Nguyen, C.Ss.R. said that "This is how we practice the Heavenly Virtue of Patience."

"Love is creative, understanding goodwill for all men. It is the refusal to defeat any individual. When you rise to the level of love, of its great beauty and power, you seek only to defeat evil systems." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Let us learn to love as Jesus taught us from His Sacred Heart.