Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: June 16,2026

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text:   Matthew 5:43-48

“You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies. Bless those that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for those who insult and persecute you that you may be the children of your heavenly Father for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and He sends the rain on the just and the unjust. If you love only those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not even tax collectors do so? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Don’t non-believers do the same? So, be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

MEDITATIO - Meditate on text, allow the LORD to touch us with His Word:

Am I loving only toward those whom I agree?  Can I look at others as the LORD looks at them? Do I pray for the well-being of others who treat me poorly/unkindly?

BREAKING OPEN THE TEXT:

Today’s gospel reading from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount recounts Jesus’ teaching on loving as the heavenly Father loves even the difficult and hostile people in one’s life.

ORATIO – Lifting our minds and hearts to the LORD in prayer:

Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, You are love. Let your love take root within me and grow so that I might be a vessel of your love in this world. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

CONTEMPLATIO – Sitting with the LORD in silence for a minute or more