Love Your Enemies
Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 5:43-48 - 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.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
There are many people who try to find a deeper, hidden, new meaning or interpretation to a Scripture passage, and they miss the simple point that Jesus has made (sometimes Biblical scholars are the worst offenders). When Jesus says “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” He means exactly that. We must hope for the best for those who have wronged us—no matter how much they have wronged us. We must pray for them, especially for the conversion of their souls.
During prayer, take a moment to pray an Our Father for those who have hurt us significantly, even if it is hard. (Don’t spend too much time on this, especially if there are still painful feelings or thoughts, and don’t spend time thinking of their sins against us. Simply pray for them.) Our prayers for forgiveness might have a great effect on their salvation…and on our own as well.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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