SATURDAY, FIRST WEEK OF LENT
Dt 26: 16-19 Ps 119: 1-2, 4-5, 7-8 Mt 5: 43-48
CALLED TO LOVE BEYOND LIMITS
The readings today invite us to take a serious look at what it truly means to belong to God not just by name, but by the way we live and love. In the first reading, Moses reminds the people of Israel about the covenant they have entered into with the Lord. God calls them to walk in His ways, to keep His commandments and to be a people set apart, not because they are better than others, but because they are chosen to reflect God’s holiness in the world. God promises that if they live faithfully, He will raise them high in praise and honour. This is not about privilege, but about purpose. To be God’s people means to mirror His goodness and mercy in our daily lives.
In the Gospel Jesus reveals the fullness of what that covenant looks like: love that knows no boundaries. Jesus says, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” These words strike the heart because they go against our natural instincts. We find it easy to love those who are kind to us, to forgive those who apologize, to pray for those who treat us well. But Jesus calls us to something greater to love as the Father loves. God’s love is not selective. He makes His sun rise on the good and the bad alike. His love is not based on merit, but on mercy. When we love those who hurt us, when we forgive those who do not deserve it, when we choose peace instead of revenge, we step into the very heart of God. This is the meaning of ‘being perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,’ not flawless, but complete in love.
Lent is the perfect time to let this Word take root in us. It is a time to let go of grudges, bitterness, and the walls that separate us from others. God asks not for great acts of sacrifice, but for hearts willing to love as He loves. Let us pray for the grace to love the difficult ones, to bless those who oppose us, and to become true children of our heavenly Father.
Response: Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord!
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