“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven….Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Matthew 5:43-45, 48

 

Controlled by an inner self
we’ve had from long ago
through no fault of our own.
We don’t respond as others might.

A deep-seated pattern sticks like quicksand to shoes,
not connected to the person
God created us to be.

But we love God and we love others,
do our best with what we have.
Sometimes we succeed,
other times fail bitterly.

Stuck.
Connection with our true heart and mind obstructed.
Behaviour out of control.

Yet we do our best,
work hard to be as upright as can be,
Forgetting that only God is perfect.

We suffer with guilt and shame,
Christ’s gift of grace forgotten,
though freedom from what binds
is only a prayer away.

Kneeling before our Lord
we ask him to forgive.
Hard as it may be,
apologize to those we hurt.

So much easier it would be
to stand up and be tall
– to be perfect.

Yet God alone is perfect.
In our humility he brings us closer to himself.
Prayer clears away the pain!

 

Remember him who gathered us around himself, sat down and taught his wondrous words of wisdom. (Matthew 5:1-2)

marja