True Love is the Fruit of the Spirit
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.”Ps. 103
He who does not forgive is because he has not yet opened himself enough to God through faith, and still lives in the flesh, in the ego, and not in the Spirit. Forgiveness is divine love, it is the opportunity we have to make God present in our hearts and in our lives, it is the love that is the fruit of the Spirit, to which we must open ourselves through faith, for otherwise we could not love in this way, Christian and divinely, but only like pagans, who also love those they sympathize with, but many are excluded.
When you do not forgive a person or do not know how to love them because you do not like them, you are not rejecting just one person but millions and millions who, if you knew them, would also not pass the filter of your ego. It is Jesus whom you despise because you are not paying attention to Him, since the code of the new and eternal covenant that we renew in every Eucharist is to love as Jesus loves us, that is, everyone, the righteous and the sinners.
He who despises one of these little ones despises me and the Father who sent me. Mt 18:10; Lk 10:16. We would deceive ourselves thinking we are right with God if we do not love our brother. Whoever says he loves God must show it in his love for his brother.
“We love because He loved us first. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must also love his brother.”1 John 4:18ff
Love everyone; the Word of God makes no exceptions there, nor does it specify that you have to like them or that they have to meet certain requirements. Love is for everyone or it is nothing more than selfishness and personal whim. 1 corinthians 13:4-8, He who does not love everyone still lives in the flesh and not in the spirit. Understand that Chistian love does not refer to a feeling you cannot control or decide, but to doing good, which you can decide and do to anyone, even to those you do not like.
“I could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal (egocentric) as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to receive it. In fact, even now you are not yet able, for you are still carnal. Are there not rivalries and envy among you? Then you are carnal and behave like other people.”1 Corinthians 3:1ff
Let us nourish the soul with His word, which is Spirit and life, for it is the way we will free ourselves from darkness and sin. From Him comes the ability to love and forgive that we could not have without Him, for it is the fruit of the spirit, and it is only His divine love that makes it possible. Let Him free you by receiving His word with faith and trusting in Him more than in yourself.
“He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.”1 John 2:9
“If we say we have communion with Him, but walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”1 John 1:6
Readings for the Week
Sunday: Sir 27:30-28:7/Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 (8)/Rom 14:7-9/Mt 18:21-35
Monday: 1 Tm 2:1-8/Ps 28:2, 7, 8-9/Lk 7:1-10
Tuesday: 1 Tm 3:1-13/Ps 101:1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6/Lk 7:11-17
Wednesday: 1 Tm 3:14-16/Ps 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6/Lk 7:31-35
Thursday: Eph 4:1-7, 11-13/Ps 19:2-3, 4-5/Mt 9:9-13
Friday: 1 Tm 6:2c-12/Ps 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20/Lk 8:1-3
Saturday: 1 Tm 6:13-16/Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5/Lk 8:4-15
Next Sunday: Is 55:6-9/Ps 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 (18a)/Phil 1:20c-24, 27 a/Mt 20:1-16a
Observances for the Week
Sunday: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Catechetical Sunday
Tuesday: St. Januarius, Bishop and Martyr
Wednesday: Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gön, Priest, and Paul Chöng Ha-sang and Companions, Martyrs
Thursday: St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Saturday: St. Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest
Next Sunday: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Priesthood Sunday