Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-89) - A Radical Way of Life

Dearest Goddaughter,

This week, in his Sermon on the Mount, our Lord challenges us to a new and radical way of life.

On Monday (6/17), Jesus challenges us to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile for anyone. To turn the "other cheek" does not mean that we let others walk all over us. However, it does mean that when someone does evil against us, we do not return evil for evil. It is one thing for someone to strike us because they will answer to God for it. However, if we strike back, then we are no better than them. Again, this does not mean that we let others bully us or push us around but how can we respond to evil with good, because God is good.

On Tuesday (6/18), he tells us to love our enemy and pray for those who persecute us. There are four types of love. Storge love is familial affection between family members. Phileo love is friendship between peoples. Eros love is the passionate love between a man and a woman. Agape love is love that wills the love of God for another. Here, to love our enemy and pray for those who persecute us is agape love because we will the good of another and pray for them. We pray that the Spirit of God enters into their hearts and lead them to conversion.

On Wednesday (6/19), Christ invites us to be mindful of our intentions when we pray, fast, and give alms. Are we doing it for vainglory or are we genuine in our love for God and others when we pray, fast, and give alms? One of the Beatitudes is "blessed are the pure of hearts for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Our intentions must always be for the greater glory of God and not ourselves. When we pray, it is for God's eyes and not for show. When we fast, it is to help us grow in our relationship with God, not to draw attention to ourselves. When we give alms (or to charity), we do so out of love for God and for others and not to make us feel good about ourselves. Our words and actions matter; so does the intent behind those words and actions. Keep them pure.

On Thursday (6/20), Jesus gives us the "Our Father" and teaches us that we should forgive others as our heavenly Father forgives us. Forgiveness can be challenging for us, especially when a loved one hurts so in a very deep and personal way. However, through the Gospel, our Lord tells us to give others in the same way that we ask God to forgive us when we pray the "Our Father." Jesus goes as far as to warn us: "If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions." When we find it hard to forgive someone, especially when we go about it on our own. Therefore, remind ourselves that nothing is impossible with God and pray for the strength and courage to forgive.

On Friday (6/21), he reminds us that "where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." Since entering Diaconal Formation in January of 2015, I have become less and less interested in watching sports unless it is in a social setting with friends. This is because our Formation Directors reminded us of this teaching from our Lord - "where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." While it is fine for us to enjoy the various activities of life, let us never forget to put God first and foremost in everything that we do and honor Him above all.

Finally, on Saturday (6/22), Christ teaches that we cannot serve "two masters" and that we must seek first the kingdom of God and trust the God will provide for us. God provided for us, provides for us, and will always provide for us. The First Commandment is "I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me." God is the master of our life. No other idols, ourselves included (because we can become our own idol), should have a place above God because they will only lead us away from our Father's love and lead us astray in life. Proverbs 3:5 tells us to "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely. . ." And, of course, Jesus gives us the Great Commandment: "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).

These are certainly challenging for us, because of our fallen nature, which is way we must turn to God and ask the Spirit for help us stay on the straight and narrow path that leads us to the narrow gates of heaven. Amen.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for June 17-21:

• 1 Kgs 21:1-16 and Mt 5:38-42 (6/17)
• 1 Kgs 21:17-29 and Mt 5:43-48 (6/18)
• 2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14 and Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 (6/19)
• SIR 48:1-14 and MT 6:7-15 (6/20)
• 2 Kgs 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 and Mt 6:19-23 (6/21)
• 2 Chr 24:17-25 and Mt 6:24-34 (6/22)