The Lord commands us to "observe His statutes, commandments and decrees, and to hearken to His voice" (Dt 26:17). If we obey Him, He will raise us "high in praise and renown and glory" and we "will be a people sacred to the Lord" (Dt 26:19). But if we do not obey the Lord, we do not love Him (Jn 15:10; 1 Jn 5:3), and if we do not love Him, we are doomed. Therefore, we must obey the Lord, even if we have to suffer and die to do it.
One of the Lord's commands is: "Love your enemies" (Mt 5:44). Obviously, this command is humanly impossible to obey. Only God Who is Love (see 1 Jn 4:16) can love anyone, especially enemies. Consequently, we must ask God to give us His divine power to love our enemies. We must accept this grace because unless we love our enemies, we are not obeying God and therefore not loving Him.
| PRAYER: | Father, thank You for the grace of forgiving and loving enemies. |
| PROMISE: | "In a word, you must be made perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." –Mt 5:48 |
| PRAISE: | For many years, Cheryl has volunteered her musical ability to teach new seminarians how to sing and chant the liturgical praises of God. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College