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Explore the call to love our enemies through selfless agape love, transforming our hearts and relationships in this insightful Gospel reflection.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Today’s Gospel is the Christian ethic of personal relations. In Greek, there are several words for love. Let’s look at two: philia and agape. The first love, philia, is tender affection, a feeling of the heart. Agape, however, is a selfless and sacrificial love—a  determined act of the will rather than merely an emotion. Agape love seeks the highest good of the other—it casts out bitterness from the heart despite the actions of another.

Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” If we love in this virtuous way, we become the “children of your heavenly Father.” To love as God loves makes us God’s family, His children. Here is the key to personal relationships: love and pray for the other.

In prayer, we do more than speak, we begin to love. Even those who wound us become part of our sacred conversation with God. And as we lift them up, something shifts within us. Prayer does not always change the other, but it always changes us. It softens the heart, deepens compassion, and opens us to love as Christ loves, freely and fully. 

The final line of today’s Gospel may feel even more daunting than the first: “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The Greek word used here is teleios, meaning an end, a goal, having reached one’s purpose. To be teleios is to live toward the fullness (maturity) of who we are called to be.

The command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us reveals the heart of Christian maturity: to forgive as God forgives and to love as God loves.

It’s not an easy road, but we do not walk it alone. God’s grace is sufficient.

 

Ponder:

 Whom am I called to have agape love for, and how will I intentionally pray for this person? 

 

Pray:

Lord Jesus, You call me to a love that stretches beyond my limits—a love that forgives, heals, and embraces even those who have wounded me. Shape my heart to reflect Your own and teach me how to love.

 

Pray Together:

Begin your meal together (or at the end of the day sit together) and ask God to bless a person who has shown you how to love as Jesus loves. Each person names someone and ask God to bless them. 

 


June 16

Copyright 2026 Dr. Lisa M. Gulino

 

About the Author

Dr. Lisa M. Gulino

Dr. Lisa M. Gulino

Dr. Gulino is a lay ecclesial minister with over 30 years' experience in pastoral ministry and teaching in higher education. She has served in Diocesan Ministries for a total of 22 years—Diocese of Fall River and Diocese of Providence. Additionally, she has several years in Parish Ministry. Lisa received her Doctorate in Ministry from the Catholic University of America in Spiritual Formation with emphasis in evangelization and catechesis. She wrote her dissertation on the spiritual and faith formation of the domestic church. Since 2007 Lisa has served as an adjunct professor at St. Joseph College for both theology and pastoral ministry courses. Her work with the Congregation of Holy Cross began in 2018 as a facilitator and advisor with the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame's STEP Program. And she also serves as a faculty member for the Permanent Diaconate program for the Diocese of Fall River. Lisa grew up in Attleboro, Massachusetts in the shadow of our Lady’s Mantle as she lived close to Lasalette Shrine and visited often with her family. She is the fifth of six children. She is the proud aunt of 11 nieces and nephews and 14 great nieces and nephews.