Love has no boundaries

Mt 5: 43-38

43 ‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

“Any of us can love those who already love us. The

followers of Jesus are called to the harder task of loving those for whom it is hard to feel anything

positive.”

1. Love has compassion and moves towards the other

2. Love prays and acts

3. Love welcomes and accepts

Form of Mt 5 passages:

• Traditional teaching (vs 43)

• Vicious cycle (vs 46,47)

• Transforming initiatives or actions (vs 44, 45)

46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of

the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the

kingdom of heaven.

Mt 5:20

A greater righteousness…

32 ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

Lk 6: 32 & 33

Come as you are; but don’t stay that way

Rom 14:13 – Stop passing judgement on one another

Rom 14: 19 – Make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification

Rom 15: 7 – Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you…

Jn 4: 4-26