Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: June 18, 2024

Date: Tuesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  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 the pagans not do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today continues our reading of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Today’s text expands Jesus’ teaching on living the intent of the law of love. Jesus challenges us to love all, even those designated as “our enemies.”

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How loving am I truly of others? Do I seek to see within others what the LORD sees?

Praying:

LORD, You create us, You save us, You sanctify us all because You are love itself. You call us to love You with all our beings, mind, body, soul and strength, and to love one another. Help us, LORD, to love as you created us to love, as your taught us to love, as you grace us and gift us to love this day and all days, now, then and always. Amen.