Meeting the Challenges

Today's gospel selection from the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:38-48) challenges us to "go the extra mile", to love and forgive our enemies.  We can find the toughness to walk that extra mile, go out of our way to help another, more easily than to forgive those who annoy us, from the vehicle behind us that is practically in our back seat, to those who mock and insult us for holding on to "old-fashioned" beliefs and morals, and even to those who persecute others out of pure hate.  Love these?  Forgive these? YES.  That's what Jesus said and did, as hanging on the cross his first words were, "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23: 34)  Jesus is clear that his injunction to "be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect", (Mt 5:48) takes work, grace and a major change of heart.  Lent is coming.  Starts this Wednesday.  Another opportunity to stretch ourselves to meet the ideals presented in this passage. Possible, impossible?  With God, all things are possible.
Bro. Rene