Gospel 7-12-24. Matt: 5:43-48. St John Gualbert, Abbot
43 You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thy enemy.
Audistis quia dictum est : Diliges proximum tuum, et odio habebis inimicum tuum.
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
Ego autem dico vobis : Diligite inimicos vestros, benefacite his qui oderunt vos, et orate pro persequentibus et calumniantibus vos :
45 That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust.
ut sitis filii Patris vestri, qui in caelis est : qui solem suum oriri facit super bonos et malos : et pluit super justos et injustos.
46 For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this?
Si enim diligitis eos qui vos diligunt, quam mercedem habebitis? nonne et publicani hoc faciunt?
47 And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this?
Et si salutaveritis fratres vestros tantum, quid amplius facitis? nonne et ethnici hoc faciunt?
48 Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.
Estote ergo vos perfecti, sicut et Pater vester caelestis perfectus est.
John Gualbert, a noble military knight, met the murderer of his brother, Hugh, on Good Friday. He was about to slay him, when the assassin begged his pardon for the sake of Christ crucified. Changed by God's grace, he embraced him as a brother in Christ, became a monk, and founded the Congregation of Vallombrosa, affiliated to the Order of St Benedict. He died A.D. 1073.
