“Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” – Today’s Gospel account calls upon us to do more than just what equity demands. Authentic love requires something more than a simple exchange of goods and favours: If you like me, I like you too; If you give me something, I will grant something to you as well. It is really difficult to accept that between justice and mercy there is no conflict if both of them are well understood. Love and mercy do not remove and deny justice and justice is not contrary to love and mercy. First of all, they all flow from the Lord. Briefly we may sum up this passage of the Gospel in this way: Love your neighbour regardless of what he or she does to you; Do not repay anyone with any evil or bad intentions in any malicious way; Even if somebody hurts you, you are not allowed to do the same or worse. This is a real challenge but the Lord who loves us unconditionally wants us to grow in holiness and to be truly happy.

Ash Wednesday is approaching! Let us tune our minds and hearts on the meaning of Lent as a time of repentance, change of heart and prayer.

This week we celebrate:

Tuesday, February 22^nd, Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter. On that day, we are not celebrating a piece of furniture, but the role and office of St. Peter within the Church. And that office, presently held by Pope Francis, has been around for over 2000 years and is a sign of authority of the Pope and of unity the followers of Jesus. Please, keep the Holy Father and his intentions in our prayers!

Wednesday, February 23^rd, Memorial of Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr. Polycarp was a bishop of Smyrna, a disciple of Saint John the Apostle and a friend of Saint Ignatius of Antioch. Saint Ignatius, on his way to Rome to be martyred, visited Polycarp at Smyrna, and later at Troas, wrote him a personal letter. He praised Polycarp’s steadfast faith saying: “your mind is grounded in God as on an immovable rock.” At the age of 86, Polycarp was led into the crowded Smyrna stadium to be burned alive. The flames did not harm him and he was finally killed by a dagger. The centurion ordered the Saint’s body burned. The Acts of Polycarp’s martyrdom are the earliest preserved, fully reliable account of a Christian martyr’s death. He died in 155.

St. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr – pray for us!

God Bless,

Fr. Peter