DGeMs- Daily Gospel eMessage
Dear Friend in the Lord,
“Jesus’ Faith Expectations”: In today’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims His expectations of the faith of His disciples and believers. They are to love their enemies, pray for their persecutors, and love “as perfectly as His Father is perfect.” Ponder on, “While Jesus’ expectations of the faith are very demanding, they are concrete ways of becoming more like Him.”
Fr Philip Heng, S.J.
Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have heard how it was said, You will love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike.
‘For if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even the tax collectors do as much? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Do not even the gentiles do as much? You must therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’