We are told that often times living as a Christian or Catholic in society today we will have to go against the grain. To say no to the pressures, ideals, and gods that society tries to force on us. This is not some new reality, it has been true since the days of Jesus! Check out this example:
Matthew 5:43-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."
So, let's get this straight....we are called to
1) Love our enemies
2) Pray for those who persecute us
3) Greet everyone as if they are our brothers
What?! These tasks are not only difficult, they are down right unusual! In all likelihood, we will never hear society to tell us to love and pray for those who have hurt us, but we are called to do just that all the same!!
Maurice Davis once said, "As salt and light, we are also called to be different, for one must be different before one can make a difference."
Go, and live an unsual life!
(Maybe if enough of us live the unsual life, it won't be so unusual after all! <--That would be epic)
