Friday, 23 February 2018

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES


PRAYER PAUSE  


Saturday 24 February 2018


LOVE YOUR ENEMIES


Enter into the stillness of God within.


Reading: “But I say this to you: love your enemies and  and pray for thse who persecute you; in this way you will be sons and daughters of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-48)



Reflection. But I don’t have any enemies! Well, maybe not, in the sense of those who are at war with us and threaten our lives – as is happening in Syria, South Sudan, the Congo, Yemen and Afghanistan. But there are people we avoid: awkward people or the handicapped or the poor or just those I cannot get on with. If our “virtue is to go deeper” this Lent there is a call at least to embrace others in our hearts, examine our prejudices and do what we can – be it ever so little – to break down barriers that divide. If we really welcome the gospel it stretches us beyond our settled ways and carries us deeper into the heart of God’s plan for all his people.


Prayer. Lord, console, strengthen and liberate our brothers and sisters in Syria, South Sudan, the Congo, Yemen and Afghanistan. And may we all stretch out our hands and hearts to one another, especially those who are “enemies.” Amen.





































No comments:

Post a Comment