Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! — Psalm 119:1b

Mass Readings: Deuteronomy 26:16-19/Matthew 5:43-48 

True Love 

On Sept. 11, 2001, life changed drastically in the United States after terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and another that ended in a field in Pennsylvania. Since then, we’ve been in a continual state of war against an enemy that most of us can only picture in our heads. It’s also meant that many Americans whose appearance match our mental images have been suspected and accused of being our enemies. 

That makes the words of Jesus from today’s Gospel — “love your enemies” — even more urgent. For if Jesus calls on me to love my enemies, how much more do I need to love and trust my fellow citizens whose only “offense” is that they don’t look like me? 

Prayer: Jesus, help me to love as You loved, as the Father wants.