June 19, 2018 Tuesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time-B
1 Kings 21:17-29
Psalm 51
Matthew 5:43-48
“But I say to you, love your enemies…” Mt. 5:44
Lord, who is my enemy? What’s the name of the person you call me to love today? Is it someone who I have hurt and has retaliated against me? Is it a person who is very different from me racially, politically or just plain nasty? Is it a cruel relative who has abused someone I love? What you ask today is a tall order. I have to look past my feelings and make a choice to love or hate. I can’t let emotion cloud my decision. You make it clear that all your children receive the sunlight of your care and the rain of your forgiveness. Again, we can look to you to guide our choice. You chose to ask forgiveness for the people who nailed you to the cross. Lord, I pray for the one who I don’t feel like praying for. I can put behind me their offense or their strangeness and open a door even if I do it with gritted teeth. I can’t change them but I can let you change me. Send your Holy Spirit to free me from hate and to empower me to be more like you, even if I don’t feel like it. Amen.