Dear frends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.

1 John 4:7

"It's just too hard," she says.

"It's supposed to be hard," he says. "If it weren't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great."

Jesus spoke similar words to his disciples when he said,

If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:45-48)

Jesus was talking about loving those who are hard to love.

Are you having a hard time loving that teacher who demerits you all the time? It's supposed to be hard. If it weren't hard, everyone would be doing it. The hard is what makes it great.

Finding tough to love the coach who won't play you, the neighbour who yells at you, the former friend who stabbed/betray you? It's supposed to be hard. If it weren't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.

Our tendency, of course, is to excuse or explain away our unloving attitudes and actions toward such people because it's so hard. But love isn't right only when it's easy; it's right when it's hard, too. In fact, loving such people - the ones who are hardest to love - is not only hard, it's impossible without God's help. And God knows that. That is the way "he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love" (Romans 5:5). As we spend time with him and rely on him, he will help us to do the right thing and love even those who are hard to love.

REFLECT : Whom do you find easy to love? Whom do you find hard to love? Think of something you can do this week to act in love toward these people, both those you find easy to love and those whom you have a hard time loving.

PRAY : "Thanks, God, for your Holy Spirit, who makes it possible for me to love others."