Dear Parents and Friends,

This Sunday’s Gospel reading will remind us once again that Jesus has asked us to “love” our enemies; not in a romantic way, of course, but in the whole-hearted and unconditional concern for the well-being of another. As Christians, we are so often challenged to this kind of love, and it is not always easy.

As you will have read in the Week 2 newsletter, this term at St Brigid’s, we are focusing on one of our school values - Compassion. This value calls us to act on our concern and care for others in real ways of assistance and support. Jesus would call us further towards this ideal by challenging us to demonstrate compassion even towards those whose lifestyle or beliefs do not necessarily line up with our own. In following his example, we would be more concerned with  the well-being and welfare of others than with the differences between us. Jesus is teaching us that those differences of race, colour, religion or lifestyle should not inhibit the compassion that we could show.

Our children need to see and hear us, the adults in their lives, demonstrating the kind of compassion that does not discriminate. We can remind them by our daily words and actions that to judge others means that we, too, might be judged, at the risk of losing the freedom and dignity that we so cherish.

“But I say to you that listen,

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you…

Do not judge, and you will not be judged;

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.”

(Luke 6)

Yours in Faith, Justice and Learning