Maybe another way to rephrase our scripture verse for today is, "For if you go to church and have your prayer groups, bible studies and prayer times but you do not forgive your enemies, then what is that all about? Why go to church and do all that 'holy' stuff if it is not changing you for the good? What a waste of time when you can just as well learn not to love and forgive your enemies without making the effort to go to church."

The world is looking for a change. We are desperate for things to turn for the good. We want the war against life in the womb and outside the womb to end. We pray that enemies will join hands in peace. We lack what we were created for and we seek it constantly.

We have magnanimous, global problems and we might buy into the idea that true peace could only happen in a fairy tale. In light of all the enemy warfare that is brought to our conscience through the media, what can we do?

We can pray for the grace to live the message of love and forgiveness that is an essential teaching of the church. As people see you live it they just might want to live it too!

Who do you need to forgive? Ask God to change your heart and live the forgiveness Jesus came to bring. Be the change for peace that all people are looking for. Show, that if taken to heart, the church works the miracle of you loving those who have no love for you.

Blessed by the BEST,

+Fr. John