Love Your Enemies; And Pray For Those Who Persecute You.

"You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy.  But this I tell you: love your enemies; and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your FATHER in Heaven.  For HE makes HIS sun rise on both the wicked and the good; and HE gives rain to both the just and the unjust.

If you love those who love you, what is special about that?  Do not even tax collectors do as much?  And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that?  Do not even the pagans do as much?  As for you, be perfect, as your heavenly FATHER is perfect." - Matthew 5:43-48  

(Love your neighbor.  Here we come to the last of the opposites between the Old Law and the New.  The Old Testament spoke of loving a neighbor and this was a matter of solidarity among the members of the people of GOD.  With the Gospel the word "love" is not only given a wider dimension: it introduces us into a world totally different.  Solidarity within the group is supported by an instinct inscribed in nature.  This love however does not cross the frontiers that separate social groups: these only exist and find their identity in opposing others.

Do not do good to your enemy.  The text is not found in the Scriptures as it stands but its equivalent is in several places [Deuteronomy 7:2].  Referring to enemies of the nation rather than to personal enemies, we are asked to be wary of them, not to help them and even to exterminate them, rather than share their errors.  If in many countries today it is understood that there is no frontier for love, it must be recognized that this ideal is a fruit of the Gospel: JESUS has enlightened our minds by asking us to model the love of our neighbor on the universal love of GOD the FATHER.  We have only to open a newspaper to see that this love of neighbor, whatever it be, and even if it comes from a social, national or religious group, in enmity with ours, remains incomprehensible to the majority, even in Christian countries.  When we realize that there is a place for everyone in the present world and that GOD directs everything for the benefit of all, we see things as GOD does and are perfect as the FATHER is perfect.

Love your enemies: Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; Romans 12:20; Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; Romans 12:14; Ephesians 5:1.)

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"If The Sinner Turns From His Sin, He Will Live."

"If the sinner turns from his sin, observes MY decrees and practices what is right and just, he will live, he will not die.  None of the sins he committed will be charged against him; he will live as a consequence of his righteous deeds.  Do I want the death of the sinner? - word of YAHWEH.  Do I not rather want him to turn from his ways and live?

But if the righteous man turns away from what is good and commits sins as the wicked do, will he live?  His righteous deeds will no longer be credited to him, but he will die because of his infidelity and his sins.

But you say: YAHWEH's way is not just!  Why, Israel!  Is MY position wrong?  If the righteous man dies after turning from his righteous deeds and sinning, he dies because of his sins.  And if the wicked man does what is good and right, after turning from the sins he committed, he will save his life.  He will live and not die, because he has opened his eyes and turned from the sins he had committed." - Ezekiel 18:21-28 

(If the sinner turns from his sin, he will live:  everyone will have time to decide freely.  If people are evil and then decide to do good, GOD will wait for their conversion and will take their last orientation into account.

In later times, wise men will note that oftentimes evil people do not receive their punishment, nor good people their reward in this life [see Job 21]; it will become obvious to them that GOD's justice will be achieved in the next life.)

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"Ask, And You Will Receive; Seek, And You Will Find; Knock, And The Door Will be Opened."

"Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened.  For everyone who asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  Would any of you give a stone to your son, when he asks for bread?  Or give him a snake, when he asks for a fish?  However bad you may be, you know how to give good things to your children.  How much more, then, will your FATHER in heaven give good things to those who ask HIM!

So, do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there, you have the law and the prophets." - Matthew 7:7-12  

(JESUS invites us to ask with perseverance: persevering petitions cease being self-centered and become prayer, that is, they lift us up and bring us closer to GOD.

What about asking the saints?  We must admit, that, very often, the person who begs from the saints takes a road opposed to real prayer.  Such a person is not interested in discovering GOD's mercy, but in obtaining some favor.  She does not care whom she addresses as long as she finds an efficient and automatic dispenser of benefits.  So begins the search for saints, shrines and devotions.

The Church is a family.  Just as we ask our friends to pray for us, so too and much more should we ask our brothers and sisters, the saints.  No one will criticize us if, at times, we show our confidence in their intercession, especially the intercession of those whom we admire more because we know their lives and their deeds.  This "petition" to the saints should not, however, be confused with perseverance in asking, which introduces us into GOD's mystery.  Only Mary, the mother of GOD can accompany us in that prayer because GOD made her our mother; because HE deposited in her all the compassion HE has for us; and because HE united her to HIMSELF in such a way that when we look at her, we always find the living presence of GOD.)

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The Conversion Of Nineveh

"The word of YAHWEH came to Jonah a second time.  'Go to Nineveh, the great city, and announce to them the message I give you.'

In obedience to the word of YAHWEH, Jonah went to Nineveh. It was a very large city, and it took three days just to cross it.  So, Jonah walked a single day's journey and began proclaiming, 'Forty days more and Nineveh will be destroyed.' 

The people of the city believed GOD.  They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

Upon hearing the news, the king of Nineveh got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes.  He issued a proclamation throughout Nineveh:

'By the decree of the king and his nobles, no people or beasts, herd or flock, will taste anything; neither will they eat nor drink.  But let people and beasts be covered with sackcloth.  Let everyone call aloud to GOD, turn from his evil ways and violence.  Who knows?  GOD may yet relent, turn from HIS fierce anger and spare us.'

When GOD saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, HE had compassion and did not carry out the destruction HE had threatened upon them." - Jonah 3:1-10  

(The Ninevites, being sinners, received no other divine sign than the coming of Jonah, who invited them to repent.  JESUS contemporaries believe they are "good" because they belong to the people of GOD, and they do not realize that the hour has come for them to repent as well.)

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"The Value Of Prayer Does Not Lie In The Quantity Of Words And The Mere Repetition Of Formulas."

"When you pray, do not use a lot of words, as the pagans do; for they believe that, the more they say, the more chance they have of being heard.  Do not be like them.  Your FATHER knows what you need, even before you ask HIM.

This, then, is how you should pray:

Our FATHER in heaven,

holy be YOUR name,

YOUR kingdom come,

YOUR will, be done

on earth, as in heaven

Give us today, our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts,

as we forgive those who are in debt to us.

Do not bring us to the test,

but deliver us from the evil one.

If you forgive others their wrongdoings, your FATHER in heaven will also forgive yours.  If you do not forgive others, then your FATHER will not forgive you. - Matthew 6:7-15   

(The value of prayer does not lie in the quantity of words and the mere repetition of formulas, as if accomplishing a task.  The value of prayer lies chiefly in our inner attitude of faith and love of GOD.  We should try to lift our mind and heart to GOD as a FATHER and a friend, a GOD who loves us and is always waiting for us to share a silent moment with HIM.  To pray is not to talk much, but to surrender our lives into GOD's loving hands.

JESUS gives the Our Father to HIS disciples as the perfect prayer coming from the heart of GOD's children, expressing as it does, what they should ask and the order in which the requests should be made.)

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Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

"YAHWEH spoke to Moses and said, 'Speak to the entire assembly of the people of Israel and say to them: Be holy for I, YAHWEH, your GOD, AM holy.

Do not steal or lie or deceive one another.  Do not swear falsely by MY name so as to profane the name of your GOD; I AM YAHWEH.

Do not oppress your neighbor or rob him.  The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.  You shall not curse a deaf man nor put a stumbling block in the way of the blind; but you shall fear your GOD; I AM YAHWEH.

Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor nor bow to the great; you are to judge your neighbor fairly so as not to share in his guilt.  Do not go about as a slanderer of your people and do not seek the death of your neighbor; I AM YAHWEH.

Do not hate your brother in your heart; rebuke your neighbor frankly so as not to share in his guilt.  Do not seek revenge or nurture a grudge against one of your people but love your neighbor as yourself; I AM YAHWEH." - Leviticus 19:1-2. 11-18  

(Among so many laws which show the still primitive level of GOD's people, we marvel to find some prescriptions that teach deeply human attitudes often lacking in us.

These prescriptions, addressed to a race of small farmers, must be interpreted in order to adapt them to the circumstances of our present lives.

They teach us that the "right of ownership" is not absolute and that it never justifies oppression of the poor, nor does it excuse us from helping them.  We are ordered to care for our brothers and sisters to assure everyone what is necessary to live.

Do not seek revenge... but love your neighbor as yourself.  Here, neighbor means the brother of the same race.  They must be loved and there must be solidarity with them because GOD embraces with the same love all those who belong to HIS people.

Such a solidarity with those of one's own nation exists in all religions but there is as well the aggression or hostility towards the foreigner.  When JESUS speaks to us of love which does not cease at the frontiers of a people [Luke 10:25; Matthew 5:43], it will not be a simple extension of the term "neighbor": it will be the discovery of another relation beyond the solidarity practiced naturally by humans as in the case with certain animals.)  

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Be Merciful, O LORD, For We Have Sinned.

“Have mercy on me, O GOD, in YOUR love.

In YOUR great compassion blot out my sin.

Wash me thoroughly of my guilt;

cleanse me of evil.

For I acknowledge my wrongdoings

and have my sins ever in mind.

Against YOU alone, have I sinned;

what is evil in YOUR sight, I have done.

Create in me, O GOD, a pure heart;

give me a new and steadfast spirit.

Do not cast me out of your presence

nor take YOUR holy spirit from me.

O YAHWEH, open my lips,

and I will declare YOUR praise.”

- Psalm 51:3-4. 5-6. 12-13. 17

(This is the finest of the ‘penitential psalms.’  Man stands guilty and unafraid before GOD.  Indeed, he sees his guilt, as a reason for mercy and an excuse for hope.  A deep sense of sin is already a step toward the sanctity of GOD.  It opens the door for HIS eager mercy.  But OUR LORD takes us even further than the psalmist.  HE teaches us to cry not ‘GOD!’ but ‘FATHER!’  HE bids us think of that father, who ran to meet the son who had left him, the father who took the son in his arms and kissed him: ‘My son was lost and is found’ [Luke 15:24].  Our trust in the FATHER’s forgiveness generously given should exceed that of the psalmist.

It is good to pray with this psalm, when we feel overwhelmed by our guilt, be it against GOD or against our brothers and sisters, and we seek the goodness of GOD, who justifies us.

When we receive the sacrament of reconciliation, we meet JESUS HIMSELF, the Savior who intercedes, and the FATHER who pardons.  Each of our confessions is a joyful celebration of GOD’s mercy and a source of renewal.)

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Call Of Levi

"After this, JESUS went out, and noticing a tax collector named Levi, sitting in the tax-office, HE said to him, 'Follow ME!'  So,
Levi, leaving everything, got up and followed JESUS.

Levi gave a great feast for JESUS, and many tax collectors came to his house, and took their places at the table with the other people.  Then the Pharisees and their followers complained to JESUS' disciples, 'How is it, that you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?'  But JESUS spoke up, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do.  I have not come to call the just, but sinners, to a change of heart.'" - Luke 5:27-32  

(The events related in this chapter show how JESUS situates HIMSELF in society and with what people HE relates: with a small group of fishermen who will be in charge of HIS new movement, with lepers and sick people who seek HIM.  HE calls people who, like Levi, belong to a despised group.)

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The Kind Of Fast That Pleases ME

"Cry out aloud for all you are worth;

raise your voice like a trumpet blast;

tell MY people of their offenses,

Jacob's family of their sins.

Is it true that they seek ME

day after day, longing to know MY ways,

as a people that does what is right

and has not forsaken the word of its GOD?

They want to know the just laws

and not to drift away from their GOD.

'Why are we fasting,' they complain,

'and YOU do not even see it?

We are doing penance and YOU never notice it.'

Look, on your fast days you push your trade

and you oppress your laborers.

Yes, you fast but end up quarreling,

striking each other with wicked blows.

Fasting as you do

will not make your voice heard on high.

Is that the kind of fast that pleases ME,

just a day for a man to humble himself?

Is fasting merely bowing down one's head,

and making use of sackcloth and ashes?

Would you call that fasting

a day acceptable to YAHWEH?

See the fast that pleases ME:

breaking the fetters of injustice

and unfastening the thongs of the yoke,

setting the oppressed free

and breaking every yoke.

Fast by sharing your food with the hungry,

bring to your house the homeless,

clothe the man you see naked

and do not turn away from your own kin.

Then will your light break forth as the dawn

and your healing come in a flash.

Your righteousness will be your vanguard,

the Glory of YAHWEH your rearguard.

Then you will call and YAHWEH will answer,

you will cry and HE will say, I am here."
- Isaiah 58:1-9

(Is it true that they seek ME... as a people that does what is right?  In spite of having a clear conscience, they are concerned because of GOD's silence.  They may have committed some sin without knowing it?  Perhaps GOD likes to see humiliated people ask for favors?  So, they lie in sackcloth and ashes.  They resemble many Christians who are satisfied with being "practicing" Christians without understanding that the kind of practice that GOD seeks is to give peace to all HIS people.

Why are we fasting and YOU do not even see it.  The people of Judah fast so that GOD will hear their petitions.  These could be public prayers to ask for rain.

Is it perhaps only a matter of bowing the head?  GOD neither wants the death of the sinner nor the humiliation of HIS creature.  GOD loves people, but HE loves them all and not only the little landowners of Judah fearful for their crops; HE also loves the laborers and the slaves  of these little landholders.  GOD's demands are clear: do away with unjust chains and share with the rest.

Unfastening the thongs of the yoke.  Here we have a glimpse of the tremendous effort demanded of all in order to do away with every form of slavery: from the small privileges that working companions compete for, to the laws that keep entire groups marginated.  It includes breaking the yoke of husbands' domination over their wives and the disputes between neighbors when no one dares to take the first step.

It is not enough to be converted to GOD "from the heart," for conversion comes about by changing both persons and structures.  These make us share in the injustices and sins of the society in which we live.  An incredible number of sins - corruption, prostitution, violence - are linked to colonialism and the economic and cultural dependence that go with it.

Sharing your food with the hungry: and that on a world scale for humankind is one, the only Adam of whom CHRIST is the head.

Your light will break forth as the dawn.  We see the leaders of the nations come together, discuss and study in order to solve the urgent problems of humanity.  No light breaks forth.  It is a known fact that the research of a scientist does not bring him directly to great discoveries.  Rather, he often finds the solution suddenly where he did not expect it.  In the same way, human problems resist theoretical solutions, but unexpected ways will be found when every nation and every segment of society willingly share and no longer oppresses others.)  

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Choose Life

"See, I set before you on this day life and good, evil and death.  I command you to love YAHWEH, your GOD and follow HIS ways.  Observe HIS commandments, HIS norms and HIS laws, and you will live and increase, and YAHWEH will give you HIS blessing in the land you are going to possess.  But if your heart turns away and does not listen, if you are drawn away and bow before other gods to serve them, I declare on this day that you shall perish.  You shall not last in the land you are going to occupy on the other side of the Jordan.

Let the heavens and the earth listen, that they may be witnesses against you.  I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.  Therefore, choose life that you and your descendants may live, loving YAHWEH, listening to HIS voice, and being one with HIM.  In this is life for you and length of days in the land which YAHWEH swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." - Deuteronomy 30:15-20  

(The text about the two ways is very famous, reminding us of the importance of our free decisions and GOD's respect for human freedom [see also Sirach 15:11].

Throughout Deuteronomy faithfulness to GOD is spoken of together with the remembrance of HIS promises and rewards here on earth.  This should not surprise us.  In those distant times the people of GOD had no understanding of another life nor of the resurrection and the vision of GOD after death.  They only focused on the present life and their national destiny which, in their view, were more important than the destiny of the individual.  For them, GOD's justice had to be seen on earth in the present.

Later, the Gospel will not promise lands or houses, except in a figurative way [Mark 10:28].  Prosperity will not be mentioned except for the final day when GOD will create the world anew [Acts 3:21 and Revelation 21:3]."  

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