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

And if you greet your brothers only,

what is unusual about that?

The Gospel readings for the past few days have the same message. Love your enemies like you love your friends.

At school I have noticed kids sometimes have "frenemies". They make friends with kids they don't get along with sometimes. It works for awhile but then they disagree and avoid each other. They go back to play with their friends.

How do you love your enemies as Jesus recommends? You need to change your perspective. I remember a story about St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She went to Chicago, USA to help some of the Missionaries living in a neighborhood that was controlled by a gang. They would shoot at the Sisters as they approached the front door of the apartments.

Mother Teresa came and said she would go speak to the gang leader. As Mother walked down the walkway to the door, the gang shot at Mother's feet but she kept walking and went into the building. She could hear where the gangsters were and knocked on the door. They opened the door and threatened Mother and she simply told them that they needed to stop shooting at her Sisters because they were trying to help the people to whom they minister. The head guy said, "You can't come in here, I have business in here." She told the head gangster "I have business in here. Let's make a deal." She made a deal that she would only help those who needed help there. They kept the truce. After a year, Mother Teresa invited the gangsters to come eat at the soup kitchen. Like she said to her Sisters, "We can turn hate into love." She did.

Jesus' actions confirmed His teaching. As Jesus hung on the cross bleeding and struggling to breathe he said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

His love redeemed us.

Let us pray the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His love will transform us, too.