Be Christ-like

    

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

19 February 2023

 

First Reading: Lv 19:1-2, 17-18

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13

Second Reading: 1 Cor 3:16-23

Gospel: Mt 5:38-48

 

Reflection

By: Benj Santiago

 

"You shalll love your neighbor as yourself." "Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness." "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

I have a confession to make, it is very easy for me to love those who are loveable. But I hate and despise those who oppose me and reject my ideas. I find it difficult to love and be merciful to my enemies.

I am sure some of us also find it difficult to love our enemies. I struggled and tried to be merciful and gracious, to be slow to anger and abound in kindness. I fail on this most of the time. And in today's Gospel we are all being reminded "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. We are all called to be "Christ-like." He has forgiven those who mocked, persecuted, and crucified Him!

It's a tough challenge for me even to this date. As far as I can recall my childhood days, I has bouts of anger and hate to myself and other people for the mistakes and wrongdoings I see and have done. But I am consoled by the fact that I no longer or very seldom I act when I am angry. We are all blessed to have a God who is merciful and gracious who is "slow to anger and abounding in kindness."

I am continuously praying to develop a loving heart. We are all called to develop a forgiving and loving heart capable of loving others who may even have offended us so "that you may be children of your heavenly Father."

Prayer

Heavenly Father teaches us Your ways. Enable us to be abounding in forgiveness and mercy to others especially those who have wronged us. Give us a heart that we may be able to claim that indeed we are Your children. This we ask in Jesus' name, Amen.