Tuesday in the Eleventh Week Ordinary Time

“I say to you, love your enemies…” Actually, do we even truly love our family and friends? A woman bumped into a stranger in the checkout line at Walmarts. “Excuse me,” she said, smiling apologetically. But that evening, while doing the dishes , her young son stood behind her. She turned, and nearly knocked him down. “Get out of my way,” she said harshly, with a frown on her face. Later, when she sat down to rest, she remembered her courtesy to a stranger in contrast to the abuse she plopped on her own little boy. Feeling remorse, she went to his room, knelt by his bedside and said, “I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you today.” He threw his arms around her neck and whispered, “Oh, Mom, that’s okay, I love you.” Then he reached over to a bedside table for a bouquet of flowers. “Here” he said, “I picked these today because they’re pretty, like you.” Then she cried from mixed emotions of shame and happiness. She kissed him, and hugged him very close. Jesus wants us to love our enemies, but first we must begin by truly loving those around us.