1st Week of Lent

Daily Meditation: Matthew 5:43-48

He makes his sun rise on the bad and the good. (Matthew 5:45)

Each morning the sun rises, offering light and warmth to everyone, regardless of their character or accomplishments. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that God provides not only the sun but all good and beautiful things to both the righteous and the sinner. And since we are God’s children, called to reflect our Father’s love, Jesus invites us to do the same.

Jesus is challenging us to love all people, even to “pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). We may not face persecution, and our list of mortal enemies may not be very long, but we all know people who make our lives difficult. And loving “those people” can prove challenging.

Dorothy Day famously said, “I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.” It’s easy to see people through the lens of their faults or failures. We can begin to withhold kindness because we unconsciously deem them unworthy of our time or patience. But Jesus calls us to love even those who hurt us or those who seem undeserving. As we do, we reflect the One in whose image we are made. Just as the sun’s light radiates out to all creation, we can shine forth with God’s all-encompassing, unchanging love. We can bring his warmth and light to a world overshadowed by harshness and judgment.

God is asking us to open our hearts wider—to love more deeply, forgive more readily, and judge less harshly. So think about how you love your friends, family members, and coworkers. But also consider the person driving beside you, the grocery clerk who rang you up, or the man asking for money at a stoplight. Think, too, about the people you find most “unlovable”! The Spirit can soften your heart and help you see the image of God in all of them. He can help you shine the light of God’s love into every corner of your world.

“Lord, help me to share your steadfast love with everyone!”

Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8