1st Week in Lent, Saturday – 27th February 2021 – Mt 5,43-48
Loving like the Father
One of the core teachings of Jesus is to love our enemies. Jesus defined our enemies as those who curse us, hate us, and exploit us selfishly. He has the right to command us to love our enemies. After all, He loved us when we were His enemies (Rom 5,10). The fact that love is commanded shows that it is a matter of the will and not primarily of the emotions. When we pray for our enemies, we find it easier to love them. It is a supernatural grace and can be manifested only by those who have divine life. Jesus gave several reasons for this admonition. 1) This love is a mark of maturity, proving that we are sons of the Father. 2) It is Godlike. The Father shares His good things with those who oppose Him. Mt 5,45 suggests that our love “creates a climate” of blessings that makes it easy to win our enemies and make them our friends. Love is like the sunshine and rain that the Father sends so graciously. 3) It is a testimony to others. God expects us to live on a much higher plane than the ordinary people of the world who return good for good and evil for evil. As Christians, we must return good for evil as an investment of love.
