Daily Word Of God
Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have heard how it was said, You will love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike.
‘For if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even the tax collectors do as much? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Do not even the gentiles do as much? You must therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- The Gospel of Jesus that challenged the Jews is timeless and universal. It applies to us and to all peoples.
- Loving those who love us and doing good to those who are good to us, are natural human attitudes and behaviour.
- However, in today’s Gospel, Jesus is challenging us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute and harm us. Let us pray that our love for God through our love for others continue to be more radical but Christ-like.