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?
- Jesus exhorts us to love our enemies just as our heavenly Father cares for everyone – the bad as well as the good.
- It is easy to love those who are deserving of our love. The test of the depth of our love for God is in whether we are able to love those who are not lovable or those who have done us wrong.
- Jesus asks us to go beyond loving, not only those we think are worthy of our love. We need God’s help. When faced with such difficulties, let us always pray for the divine grace and assistance we need.