The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Corinthains 8:1-9
Psalm 146:2,5-9
Matthew 5:43-48

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect,” our Lord tells us today. What a commandment! And how are we to accomplish this, being the imperfect beings we are? Well, one step in that direction is to do exactly as the Lord outlines in the first part of today’s gospel: love your enemies. And what is this? Another unachievable directive? Well, not entirely.

As Jesus points out, the Father showers his generosity on all people, including those who do not love him. What he does not say in today’s reading--but is a given--is that the Father also forgives those who come to Him and confess their wrongs. His forgiveness is unconditional and comes with no strings attached. This is a perfect act of love.

This is the example placed before us. We are to forgive those who are our enemies or who do us wrong. To do so releases not only others, but ourselves from the burden of many negative emotions and brings us closer to the perfection of the Father.

As you pray today, recall those who need your forgiveness and release them--and yourself--of this burden. While this may still put you far away from truly loving them, you will be one step closer--and one step closer to being perfect, as the Father is perfect.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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