Today, your sun rises on the good and the evil alike, O Father; may my heart also make no distinction between people.
Your word challenges me, Lord. You tell me that if I love only my friends, if I greet only my family, I am not doing anything special.
Everyone does that. That is a love which expects something in return. But you show me a different way. Your way.
You cause your sun to rise on the evil and the good, and send rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Your love does not pick and choose, it does not judge, it sets no conditions.
Lord, enlarge my heart
I ask you, Father, to enlarge my heart, that it may be capable of loving as you love. Help me to overcome my pettiness and my grudges.
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44)
Lord, you know how difficult this is. You see into my heart and know all the wounds and hurts that others have inflicted upon me. You see my natural inclination to return like for like, to defend myself and to shut myself away.
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.” (Romans 12:17)
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing
Set your Son, Jesus, before my eyes. As he hung on the cross, surrounded by hatred and ridicule, he did not curse. He prayed.
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” (Luke 23:34)
This is love in its purest form. This is the perfection to which you call me. And you remind me that my forgiveness is the key that opens the door to your forgiveness for me.
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14)
Show me the way of the saints, like Stephen, who in the throes of death was able to imitate your Son.
“Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:60)
Lord, today I desire to become a new creation in you, one that reflects your unconditional love. I no longer cry out for justice, but plead for mercy—for them and for me.
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)
May this day be filled with your mercy, flowing through me to every person I meet. Mold me, Lord, that I may be perfect in love, just as you are perfect.
Amen.
lord forgive me . lord forgive the innocents who lay beneath the rubble from American bombs in Iran. .why when ignorance goes to war its the innocent that pay the price. for men who thinks they are God’s they count profit, we count loss. Amen