FIRST READING
For your sake Christ became poor.
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 8: 1-9)
We want you to know, brethren, about the grace of God which has been shown in the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints — and this, not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. Accordingly we have urged Titus that as he had already made a beginning, he should also complete among you this gracious work. Now as you excel in everything in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us — see that you excel in this gracious work also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 146: 1b-2.5-6ab.6c-7.8-9a (R. 1b)
R. My soul, give praise to the Lord!
Or: Alleluia.
My soul, give praise. to the Lord;
I will praise the Lord all my life,
sing praise to my God while I live. R.
Blessed is he who is helped by Jacob’s God,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made the heavens and the earth,
the seas and all they contain. R.
R. My soul, give praise to the Lord!
Or: Alleluia.
It is the Lord who preserves fidelity forever,
who does justice to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord who sets prisoners free. R.
It is the Lord who opens the eyes of the blind,
the Lord who raises up those who are bowed down.
It is the Lord who loves the just,
the Lord who protects the stranger. R.
ALLELUIA John 13:34
Alleluia. A new commandment I give to you, says the Lord, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Love your enemies.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 5:43-48)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Do we, like the Christians that Paul praises, “beg for the favour” of giving generously? We are asked to give not only money but love and deep compassion as well; to give not just to those who ‘deserve’, but to any needy person. In the Gospel, Jesus asks us not to judge whether someone is worthy of our love or not. If our heavenly father can extend his loving care to all, the good and evil alike, can we do any less? But we can’t begin to love in this way without the constant help of God’s grace, which enables us to fulfil Christ’s command to be perfect, just as our heavenly Father is perfect.”