SPIRITUAL EXCERCISES & RSV BIBLE EXTRACTS - WEEK 94
STARTS THURSDAY 12th November 2009
CALLED TO HOLINESS (B) CHRIST-LIKE HOLINESS OF LIFE
Weekly message No. 89 (7th November 1985).
Love of neighbour and of enemies.
“Dear children! I am calling you to the love of neighbour and love toward the one from whom evil comes to you. In that way with love you will be able to discern the intentions of hearts. Pray and love, dear children! By love you are able to do even that which you think is impossible. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
PRACTICAL:
This week show special consideration to those with whom you find it not easy to get along.
Thursday: True treasures.
Matthew 6:19-21.
19Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Thursday Cf. James 5:1-3.
1Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days.
Friday: The true love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
4Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; 5it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. 7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Saturday: The new commandment of love: to love as Jesus loves.
John 13:34-35.
34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Sunday: Brotherly love.
Romans 12:9-10.
9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
Monday: Love your enemies.
Luke 6:27-35.
27But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. 31And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. 32If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.
Monday Cf. Matthew 5:43-48.
43You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Tuesday: Christian charity towards everyone, including enemies.
Romans 12:14-21.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. 17Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20No, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Wednesday: Our love of God is proved by our love of neighbour.
1 John 4:20-21.
20If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.
Wednesday Cf. Matthew 22:36-40.
36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets”