PS Veniamin: We are called to relate to those around us with love, respect and understandingtranslated

"We are called to relate to those around us with love, respect and understanding, as we also want to be treated by them," Bishop Veniamin of South Bessarabia said on Sunday in the "St. Martiri Brâncoveni" Parish in Căuşeni, Republic of Moldova.

His Eminence explained the teachings of the Savior Jesus Christ from the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing the exhortation to love one's enemies. In communities following the unrevised calendar, the 19th Sunday after Pentecost was celebrated.

"The Savior tells us: As you would have others do to you, do the same to them (Luke 6, 31). This admonition must become a rule of living for each of us."

"However, the Lord Christ teaches us to go further than this measure of reciprocity. We are not called to do good only to those who love us, appreciate us or reward us, but to do good deeds pleasing to God regardless of people's attitude towards us and without expecting anything in return", added the hierarch.

The Bishop of South Bessarabia highlighted that through this teaching, the Lord calls us to overcome the mentality based on personal interest and on rewarding good with good...