Love your enemies

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 10 September 2026
1 Corinthians 8:1-7, 11-13     ><]]]]’> + ><]]]]’> + ><]]]]’>     Luke 6:27-38

It is again that most difficult part 
of your gospel, 
Lord Jesus,
our least favorite
of your teachings -
“love your enemies.”

Forgive us, Lord
because the mere thought of
"enemies" turn us off right away;
it is wrong but human as we are,
there is always that 
feeling of revulsion,
of getting even with those
who have hurt us
or wronged us;
but, we realize too
how in the long run
it is pure foolishness
of keeping that grudge against
our enemies because
as St. Paul tells us also today,
"knowledge inflates with pride,
but love builds up."

Your teaching
for us to love
our enemies 
is not really
about our strength
and willpower,
Jesus but in our likeness
with God,
"Be merciful, 
just as also your 
Father is merciful."

Help us, 
Jesus, 
to pray more
intensely,
to surrender more wholly
to you so that we can
let flow towards others
the mercy you have
showered us.
Amen.