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Gospel Reading for June 18, 2024 – Matthew 5: 43-48
DIFFERENT
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
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Yes, if we love only those who love us and are good only to those who are good to us, what recompense shall we have? What will make Christians DIFFERENT from others?
When we GO THE EXTRA MILE, it is what will make us different from others. For us to truly love, we do not choose only those we want to love. We give love to those who need it more. When we pray, we do not pray only for ourselves and people close to us. We pray even for those who persecute us. When we give something, we do not give only from our excesses. We give out of what we ourselves need.
Imagine, if there are no Christians who comprise 1/3 of the world population today? How much worse could our world be?
Jesus, make our hearts like unto thine!
