Love is at the core of the message of Jesus. We see this clearly in both of our Scripture passages in today’s Mass. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus tells us we must love our enemies. And in the first reading from 2 Corinthians 8 St. Paul has words that test the genuineness of the love of the people.
St. Paul speaks of the great generosity of the Christians of Macedonia. They begged Paul to allow them to help in service to the holy ones. St. Paul then says, “May you excel in this gracious act also. I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others.”
Have you ever begged someone to let you help them? Perhaps they were in a tough spot but were too proud to ask for help. You did it, not out of some misguided desire for lauds, but out of love. So it is with Christ. He loved even His enemies so much that He died for them. Are we giving out of a sense of duty, or out of genuine love?
Father, show us how to be more generous. May we always give generously out of genuine love in our hearts. Amen.
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