Tuesday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time
2 Cor 8:1-9
Mt 5:43-48
“You must love your enemies…”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Easy to say, but incredibly difficult to do. Surely, the people listening to him must have thought, “How is it possible for us to love our enemies?”
Yet, anyone can love the people who love them. Anyone can ‘be nice’ to people who are nice to them. That’s natural. But it seems to go against our human nature to love people who dislike us for any reason. Or to be nice to people who have hurt us before.
Today, Jesus is calling us to do better than what comes naturally. We need only ask for God’s grace to help us do more than what is required of our human nature.
Jesus is also telling us what ‘real love’ really means. If we only love, or care for, people when we are sure of our love being reciprocated, it’s not real kindness or love that we’re giving. Real love is not a deal, nor is it a transaction. Real love is given freely. Just like how Jesus died on the cross freely for all, so too are we called to love everyone freely.
When we face persecution ourselves, do we feel called to strengthen our faith? Or do we abandon Jesus at the most crucial time? Recently, two priests in Singapore were physically attacked at St Joseph’s Church (Bukit Timah) and at the Church of the Holy Spirit. I was inspired, and in awe of their faith in Christ. Less dramatically, on the ground, in our ordinary everyday lives, some of us may have faced judgmental looks or heard unkind words when we practise our faith in our homes, workplaces, on public transport, or in public places.
If we have abandoned our faith when we face persecution, may we not give up our love for Jesus! St Peter also abandoned his faith; our first Pope denied Jesus three times after Jesus was arrested. But Jesus did not ignore Peter after His resurrection, nor did He hold any grudges or resentment against him. Instead, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” to which Peter affirmed his love three times.
Brothers and sisters, may we grow in our grace to freely bestow on others the love and mercy of our Risen Christ, just as He has freely given us His divine love and mercy.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Brenda Khoo)
Prayer: Dear Jesus, please give us the grace to do more than loving people who love us and being nice to people who are nice to us. May You also give us the grace to give others Your real love freely. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Jesus, for being present here with me today, and for speaking these words to us with love. Thank You for Your invitation to love more like You. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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