Love Your Enemies

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.”
Matthew 5:43-48

Prayer

Dear Father how easy it is to love those who love us. It is often harder to love ourselves in which the phrase "we are our own worst enemies," can be said. But Jesus was speaking of those who live with hatred within them. Where they hate and persecute those who are good. To love as Jesus loves means looking at them with eyes of love and greeting all and not just those we are acquainted with. The world is full of people and we are told to be perfect as you are perfect dear
Father. So we too can love all those who live in this world without judgement. It is love that you seek from us, to love you an to love those around us. May we strive to live as it is asked of us by your Holy Word given to us by your Son. May our prayers this day brings us closer to perfection so we may love our enemies and bring us ever closer to your Kingdom. Amen