My Thoughts on 27/02/2021

We hear today some of the most challenging words of Jesus.

“You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

We know that the love Jesus asks of us is not a warm feeling. It is love in action. When we talk about someone being perfect we are saying they are without any faults. So when Mary Poppins says she is “practically perfect in every way” she is saying she is practically faultless.

The perfection that Jesus calls us to is to love as God loves, loving those who do not return our love, even loving those who harm us. Fr Silvester O’Flynn suggests three steps in dealing with people who have wronged us or hurt us. The first step is to wish them no harm. The second step is when you are ready, begin to pray for your enemy. And the third step is to pray for yourself. “Constantly ask the Holy Spirit to remove all bitterness from your heart. Ask for the grace to be more like God who sets no limits on his love.” We are all invited today to become children of God by loving as God loves.

Lord give me the grace today to see others as Jesus sees them. Remove from my heart all bitterness or thoughts of revenge. May I grow in your love.