A story is told of a woman who bumped into a stranger. "Excuse me," she apologized, "I wasn't watching where I was going." She was very polite and kind. That evening, while doing the dishes, her young son stood beside her. She turned and nearly knocked him down. "Move out of the way," she said harshly, with a frown on her face. His tender heart was pierced with pain as he got out of her way. Later, when she sat down to rest, she remembered her courtesy to a stranger in contrast to her harshness to 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 our family and friends. Forgetfulness, pettiness, selfishness, bitterness, withdrawal, anger, frustration, apathy, laziness: all these wage constant war against really loving even those who are closest to us. Brother Giles, the companion and disciple of St. Francis of Assisi, once said, "It is a great grace to live at peace with those around you." Whoever manages to live in peace and love with others only does so by constant prayer and work. +
Homily for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Homily for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Homily for the Solemnity of Pentecost
Homily for the 7th Sunday of Easter
Homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter
Homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter
Homily for the 4th Sunday of Easter
Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter
Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Easter
Homily for Monday in the Octave of Easter
Homily for Easter Sunday
Homily for Good Friday
Homily for Holy Thursday
Homily for Wednesday of Holy Week
Homily for Tuesday of Holy Week
Homily for Monday of Holy Week
Homily for Passion (Palm) Sunday
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