“For he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good.” | Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus continues to speak to the disciples about the Old Testament teachings, bringing to fulfillment each one beginning with the words “But I say to you.” What Jesus proclaims reveals his divine authority to bring about the New Covenant. “You have heard that it was said,” Jesus says, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.” And he says: “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.” What is the aim of all of this? What is it’s end? Jesus says, “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Alone, with self-reliance as the only ally, this is an impossible task. But God makes being perfect possible.

God, help me understand that along with the command to achieve perfection, your perfect mercy accompanies me along the way. The way to become your children, Jesus says, is to pray for those who persecute us. The rest is not up to me. It is you, God, who make your sun rise on the bad and the good; it is you who causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. Thanks be to God, that task is out of my hands!

Lord, let me keep in mind today’s Gospel acclamation: “Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.