Sign of Love

And some saying of the temple, that it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said: These things which you see, the days will come in which there shall not be left a stone upon a stone that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying: Master, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when they shall begin to come to pass? Who said: Take heed you be not seduced; for many will come in my name, saying, I am he; and the time is at hand: go ye not therefore after them. And when you shall hear of wars and seditions, be not terrified: these things must first come to pass; but the end is not yet presently. Then he said to them: Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be great earthquakes in divers places, and pestilences, and famines, and terrors from heaven; and there shall be great signs.
Luke 21:5-11 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer

Dear Father I am grateful for each day that you give me life as a sign of your love. I have always wondered about this reading and how easy it is for many to judge. It has been that way since this was first written. For two thousand years there have been many claims but we are still here. Dear Father you are the sign of love itself, because only a Father would care enough to ensure that his children are safe from harm. We are given many warnings to straighten up, just like our bodies warn us of illness. We either ignore or we go and fix our bodies don't we? The same can then be said of our world then, it's hurting and needs mending and we are that body that needs fixing. Do we love ourselves enough to reverse the damage we inflict upon the body of the world? Love mends. Dear Father I pray that with each time I see any hatred I will pray for love to conquer. I pray this day for those who are empty of God's presence, they are nothing but an empty shell. May they be filled with God's love. Amen

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom

But I say to you that hear: Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that calumniate you. And to him that striketh thee on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that taketh away from thee thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every one that asketh thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again.

And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them in like manner. And if you love them that love you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also love those that love them. And if you do good to them who do good to you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also do this. And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks are to you? for sinners also lend to sinners, for to receive as much. But love ye your enemies: do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby: and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest; for he is kind to the unthankful, and to the evil.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to you: good measure and pressed down and shaken together and running over shall they give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you shall mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:27-38 (Douay-Rheims)

Prayer

Dear Father your Son teaches us to love our enemies and we often don't. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies and in that regard we don't love ourselves as you ask of us. I love you dear Father and you taught me to love those who don't care for me. You taught me to give without cost to myself, you taught me not to judge those around me, lest I be judged in return. You taught me the greatest one of all, that of forgiveness. No matter what has happened in the world or in my life, I forgive. One can not go through life holding grudges against those who did no harm to ourselves. It is extending in our hearts the forgiveness of those who can not forgive. Dear Father your Son gave us so much to live by and we often forget how much it costs us when we don't live this way. A life lived in silence and loss of your presence in it. Where we remove you from our hearts. May I live in a way that is pleasing to you dear Father and may I strive to live the examples your Son has taught us. Amen

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