The perfection of love, meditation of the day

The perfection of love, meditation for the day: Today's Gospel ends with Jesus saying: "So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." This is a high calling! And it is clear that part of the perfection to which you are called requires a generous and total love even for those you might consider your "enemies" and for those who "persecute" you.

“But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good and makes rain fall on the just and the unjust. ”Matthew 5: 44–45

Faced with this high calling, an immediate reaction could be that of discouragement. Faced with such a demanding command, it is understandable that you may feel incapable of such love, especially when the pain caused by another is ongoing. But there is another reaction that is entirely possible and one that we should aim for. And that reaction is deep gratitude.

The gratitude we should allow ourselves to feel is due to the fact that our Lord wants us to share in His life of perfection. And the fact that he commands us to live this life also tells us that it is entirely possible. What a gift! What an honor it is to be invited by our Lord to love with His own heart and to love to the extent that He loves all people. The fact that we are all called to this level of love should lead our hearts to deeply thank our Lord.

The perfection of love, meditation of the day: If discouragement, however, is your immediate reaction to this call from Jesus, try looking at others from a new perspective. Try to suspend judgment of them, especially those who have hurt you and continue to hurt you the most. It's not up to you to judge; it is your only place to love and see others as the children of God that they are. If you dwell on the hurtful actions of another, angry feelings will inevitably arise. But if you only strive to see them as children of God that you are called to love without reservation, then feelings of love will also arise more easily within you, helping you to fulfill this glorious command.

Reflect today on this high call of love and work to foster gratitude in your heart. The Lord wants to give you an incredible gift by loving all people with His heart, including those who tempt you to anger. Love them, consider them as children of God and allow God to drag you to the heights of perfection to which you are called.

Prayer: My perfect Lord, I thank you for loving me despite my many sins. I also thank you for calling me to share in the depths of your love for others. Give me your eyes to see all people as you see them and to love them as you love them. I love you, Lord. Help me love you and others more. Jesus I believe in you.