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Gospel: 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 not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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If you have ever played a video game, then you know that there is always a series of levels.
The first level is the easiest, and the final level is the most difficult.
Sometimes it takes multiple tries before you succeed in beating that final level… but if you do, then you’ve mastered the game.
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If Christianity were likened to a video game, then today’s Gospel would be the final level: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
If you can freely do this, then you’ve mastered Christianity.
Have I mastered Christianity?
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Most of us likely have not. There are some mountains too tall for us to climb, humanly speaking. Forgiving those who’ve hurt us can be one of them. But with God, all things are possible.
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Perhaps one of the most difficult places to live it out this teaching is within our own homes. Can we strive for peace today, by choosing mercy over anger, love over resentment?
This is how the game is mastered, so to speak, by praying for the grace to put our faith into practice one day, one relationship at a time.
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Image credits: (1) Orthodox Christianity (2) Jewish Link (3) BRC Recovery
Love this quote:
Forgiveness prevents their behavior from destroying your heart.
That move is the answer. Took me a long time to learn that one. Spiritual physics likened to the martial art of aikido is the way, the truth, and the life.
Nailed it.