Where Jesus says that God "makes his sun rise on the evil

and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust".

God's universal, unconditional grace and serves

as a lesson for humans to love their enemies and show kindness to everyone.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Kings 21:17-29

Then Yahweh spoke to

Elijah of Tishbe, "Go down to meet Ahab, king of Israel, in Samaria.

He is taking possession of the vineyard of Naboth. Say to him:

'Have you killed and have taken possession at the same time?'

Then give him this word of mine:

'Dogs shall lick your blood in the very place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth."

 

Ahab then said to Elijah, "Who, better than my enemy, could find me here and now!"

Elijah answered, "I have come to you because you have done what Yahweh abhors.

This is Yahweh's word: 'I will bring disgrace on you.

I will sweep you away and cut off every male of your family, from the lowliest to the greatest.

Your family will disappear like the families of Jeroboam and Baasa,

because you have offended me and have dragged Israel into sin.'

There is another word of Yahweh to Jezebel: 'The dogs shall devour Jezebel within the territory of Jezreel.'

If anyone of Ahab's line dies in the city, he shall be devoured by dogs;

if in the green country, the birds of the air shall feed on him."

 

There was no one like Ahab, urged by his wife Jezebel, in doing what Yahweh abhorred.

He did horrible things and ran after unclean idols just as the Amorites had done,

from whom Yahweh had taken the land to give it to Israel.

On hearing these words, Ahab tore his clothes and put on sackcloth.

He fasted as he lay in sackcloth and moved around despondently. Then Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite,

"Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself? Because of this I will not bring about the disaster during his reign;

during his son's reign disgrace will fall on his family."

 

Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 11, 16

 Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 5:43-48

You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy.

But this I tell you: love your enemies; and pray for those who persecute you,

so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good;

and he gives rain to both the just and the unjust.

If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not even tax collectors do as much?

And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that?

Do not even the pagans do as much?

As for you, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

To see beyond appearances.

Jesus is right: if we love only those we like and do good to those

from whom we expect something in return, what extraordinary act are we performing?

Too often, our faith is reduced to lukewarm common sense that anyone could follow.

At times, Christianity has become diluted into inoffensive moralism and generalized "do-goodism."

From this perspective, being a Christian differs little from being a good citizen. However,

 

if we take Jesus's words seriously, it is indeed possible to love our enemies,

meaning desiring their conversion and transformation. Revenge

and violence become inconceivable for us who have experienced the extraordinary mercy of God.

In the face of those who have wronged us, we are called to imitate the heavenly Father,

who makes the rain fall on both the just and the wicked.

Of course, it is not easy, especially when beautiful words take on the contours of the face of a particular person.

Yet that is the challenge of being a Christian:

to see beyond appearances and recognize the face of a brother who can change with God's grace.