Do good !

Love thy enemy ! Do good to those who hate you. Wow ! What a concept. Yet, Jesus preached that often.

https://youtu.be/U-sO1DCrrKE

Can you imagine ? In our country that concept seems so foreign in our current political climate. Democrats do good for Republicans, or the other way around ?  I think they would rather cut their pinky off then speak well of each other. Just think of the poor example being set for future generations in college, high school , or younger. If you disagree with someone, don't try to work it out just call them names or cite poor actions on their part.

The same goes on in our towns, cities, families. Rather than do good for people if you disagree, or have been wronged, treat them as enemies. Talk bad about them, ignore them, cut them out of lives. Not per our Lord. 

It isn't easy, but the world , especially our country would be a much much nicer place to work & live. I'm not saying to be buddy, buddy, but mend the fence and move on. I have done it, and I still struggle to mend the fence with others. When you do so , you're set free from the burden of stress & hatred. 

But, there are many people who I thought I knew rather well for decades, who fail to follow the example set by Pope John Paul II . It's like they would be doing a disservice to do good for those they have a disdain for. Christian like ? Walk the talk that they claim to believe ? 

Read on:

Pope John Paul II visits his would-be assassin Mehmet Ali Ağca in prison. On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was crossing St. ... Despite severe blood loss, the pontiff survived, and asked for all Catholics to pray for Ağca, whom he had “sincerely forgiven.” An Italian court sentenced Ağca to life in prison.

The destruction in relationships & families by those who fail to do so has a rippling effect that extends generations & years.

If we love one another, God remains in us,and his love is brought to perfection in us. Amen 

🙏🙏🙏

Luke 6: 27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himsel f is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Rewards: To love our enemies is difficult, but Our Lord encourages us by pointing out the reward for obedience. “Love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High…” There is no greater reward on earth or in heaven than to live as a child of God. When we exercise the virtues of mercy, forgiveness, and non-judgmentalism, we become happier people. Our relationship with Jesus continually enriches our lives. And our eternal reward will be beyond our wildest imaginings. “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him…” (1 Corinthians 2:9).