June 17, 2025 // Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48
Reflect on the Word //
I felt the tender, formerly wounded part of my heart make its appearance for the first time in years. It was the part of my heart that had been deeply hurt by female friendship. A place within myself that for many years, I'd buried deep under the surface. I'd sworn off the intimacy and goodness that female friendship could bring to my life and remained suspicious of friendliness. By God's grace and intentional internal work, I'd come away from those wounds—healed and excited about the friendships that God desired to place in my life.
So in this moment, as I stood there in the kitchen of a new acquaintance surrounded by numerous women I had only just met, I felt deeply raw all over again and surprised to be feeling the way I did. Didn't we already work through all of this, Lord? The fears began to rise before friendship even began: Who will betray my friendship in this room?
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus encourages us to love everyone He places in our lives without pre-judgment or preconceived notions of who they are or what hurt might come in the future. He is not asking us to be without boundaries in relationships, but reminds us to remain in the grace of the present moment without allowing our former or current woundedness to cloud the way.
He tells us, "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:44-45). Perhaps the scars left behind by former relationships may make an appearance from time to time in our lives. But we need not be afraid of those feelings or close ourselves off from the relationships God has planned for our present and future. He promises continual restoration and healing as we choose to pray for those who've hurt us and for those we've also hurt. He promises to give us the grace we need to perfect our love for the other just as His love remains perfect for us. He will help you. Do not be afraid!
Relate to the Lord // How do you need the Lord’s help today? Open your heart to Him.
Shalini Blubaugh is a Minnesota transplant living in Coppell, Texas. She served with NET Ministries and went on to graduate with her J.D., though happily left all things law behind. Along with her roles as wife and mom, she now runs her own company, Pray. Train. Grow., as a Certified Fitness Trainer and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. Her mission is to help Catholic women grow STRONG in mind, body, and heart through the integration of Faith, fitness and food.
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