Faith Daily |14 June 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p 526

Father, we praise you,

that through your Word and Holy Spirit

you created all things;

you reveal your salvation in all the world

through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh;

through your Holy Spirit you give us a share

in your life and love:

fill us with the vision of your glory,

that we may always serve and praise you,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: Matthew 5: 43-48

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Rev’d Jan

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?

Ah, so easy to love the ones we love. So difficult to love the unlovable.

When we look at how we welcome; when we look at how we offer hospitality – so much easier to talk to the people we know, to ensure the comfort of those whose comfort needs we are aware of.

So much more challenging and difficult to approach those we don’t know; those whose stories of life we have no clue of. What would Jesus do?

Well, what Jesus does is expect us to behave quite differently to safe and comfortable. What Jesus expects is encounter with the unknown, unexpected and unsafe. We cannot get away from this teaching of the Sermon on the Mount.

I wonder what we are afraid of. If we truly believe the Holy Spirit of God, the presence of Christ, is always with us – we can go anywhere! We can be Him with everyone! We have the courage of the God who suffered humanly, in his divine identity.

FINAL PRAYER Michael Leunig

There are only two feelings. Love and fear.

There are only two languages. Love and fear.

There are only two activities. Love and fear.

There are only two motives, two procedures,

two frameworks, two results. Love and fear.

Love and fear.

Amen.