“Finally, may Christ inflame the desires of all men to break through the barriers which divide them, to strengthen the bonds of mutual love, to learn to understand one another, and to pardon those who have done them wrong.”
READ: MATTHEW 5:38–48
“You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away. You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way, you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
God makes the sun shine and the rain fall on both His faithful children and the rebellious ones. His love is, in the truest sense of the word, unconditional. This means that the friendship He offers us in Christ is also unconditional. Christ is the true friend, whose love and devotion to you doesn’t depend on looks, popularity, intelligence, success, money, or anything else: He loves you simply because you are you. He can’t love you any more than He already does. There is no pressure here, only peace.
A lot of good it would do if Christ gave these impossible instructions (to love as He loves) and then left us alone to try to carry them out. But He doesn’t. He walks this narrow and steep path in front of us and beside us. That was the lesson of Good Friday, when He was betrayed and abandoned by His closest friends, cruelly tortured, slandered, publicly humiliated, unjustly condemned, and put to death. Throughout the ordeal, He never once resented, hated, or retaliated. The love in His heart and His trust in the Father buoyed Him up, to the point where His dying words included, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34, NABRE). That also is the lesson of the Eucharist, the supernatural food of our Christian souls; Christ gives it to us to supplement our weak efforts and to keep us strong as we follow His difficult path.
RESPOND
Sometimes, Lord (and You know which times I’m talking about), it’s hard for me to turn the other cheek, hand over my cloak, and go the extra mile. It is not natural to love one’s enemies, Lord, so if You want me to do this, I am going to need a lot of help. But I want to. I know that only truly Christian love will bring peace to my heart and to the world. Lord Jesus, give me strength.
You have forgiven me so many times. You have practiced everything You preached in relation to me. Somehow, You really do love me. You really are interested in my life. How can that be? I don’t understand, but I believe, and I thank You with all my heart, Lord — You know how much I need Your love. Teach me to love as You do.
REST
There are so many things I want to do for You and Your Church, Lord. My mind and heart are full of desires to change this world and bring everyone around me into Your friendship. Yet I can barely control my own temper. Help me to focus on the most important thing: loving my neighbor as You have loved me.
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
About the Author
Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
