To practice the tenets of Christianity could be difficult without the help of the Holy Spirit.  Today’s readings present to us the attitudes expected of us in moments of conflicts and crises. These attitudes sometimes may present us as weaklings or cowards. Our emotions and rights may be trampled upon because we desire peace. Sometimes, people could take advantage of our desire for peaceful coexistence to inflict pains and injuries that cut so deep. At such moments, retaliation, hate and anger well up within us; turning the other cheek may seem impossible. Jesus is not asking us to allow ourselves to be abused rather he does not want us to escalate violence. He wants us to repay evil with good; for we eradicate evil with love. He wants our joy to come from within irrespective of the situation we may find ourselves.

PRAYER: O God feel me with so much joy that it may overflow and permeate my surroundings. Amen