Through Lent with Pope Francis
Each day offers us a new opportunity, a new possibility. We should not expect everything from those who govern us, for that would be childish. We have the space we need for co-responsibility in creating and putting into place new processes and changes. Let us take an active part in renewing and supporting our troubled societies. Today we have a great opportunity to express our innate sense of fraternity, to be Good Samaritans who bear the pain of other people’s troubles rather than fomenting greater hatred and resentment. Like the chance traveller in the parable, we need only have a pure and simple desire to be a people, a community, constant and tireless in the effort to include, integrate and lift up the fallen. We may often find ourselves succumbing to the mentality of the violent, the blindly ambitious, those who spread mistrust and lies. Others may continue to view politics or the economy as an arena for their own power plays. For our part, let us foster what is good and place ourselves at its service.
Frateli Tutti
Scripture
Matthew 5:43-48 NCB
“You have heard that it was said: ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
This will make you children of your heavenly Father. For he causes his sun to rise on evil people as well as on those who are good, and his rain falls on both the righteous and the wicked.
If you love only those who love you, what reward will you receive?
Do not even tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet only your brethren, what about that is so extraordinary?
Even the pagans do as much.
Therefore, strive to be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Thought for Today
Luckily the Lord doesn’t ask us to like our enemy, only to love them. The difference? As St Ignatius of Loyola says in his Spiritual Exercises, love is shown more in deeds rather than words. To love we have to treat the other with respect and kindness. With luck, this will break down enmity.
Is there anyone in my life that I should try to love, but who I find it difficult to love?
Music
To Dwell in Unity – Hebraic Restorations