2 Cor. 8:1-9 | Ps. 146:2, 5-9 | Mt. 5:43-48
Both readings continue to call us to look at the quality of our love. Paul reminds the Corinthians that they have indeed accepted all that Christ taught and did. Yet he exhorts them to go even further and to give from their abundance (food, clothing, shelter) to the poor as the people of Macedonia, who were poor themselves and gave to those who were suffering.
Jesus calls us to do the same and to go the extra mile in loving all whether they have loved or persecuted us, those who are good or evil. Jesus reminds us that if we are good only to those who are good to us then we are no better than the pagans. We are called to love beyond the norm and to return goodness beyond what we have received. This calls us to enlarge our hearts and to act as Christ, Himself, acted.