“That person is my friend/brother/boss, but he is really a pain in the neck”, this or worse things have passed through our thoughts when we have to deal with the way certain people behave; sometimes even directly offending them when we have already lost patience. There are even occasions when we feel that we have to control ourselves not to break the fifth commandment: “You shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13) because sometimes we say or think: “If he does just more thing I will loose control and kill him!”. Let us remember that Jesus Christ during the Sermon on the Mount, teaches us the true meaning (Matthew 5:21-26) of said commandment, as we know the act of killing is an attempt against a being that has been made in the image of God, but also offending another is offending the very image of God, because our Heavenly Father has created us “in His image and likeness” (Genesis 1:27). Each of us are beings that are destined to be pure as God the Father created us (Matthew 5:48).
Just as we must reflect the light of Christ with our actions, we must also make an effort to see the light of Christ in other people. Jesus Christ was very clear in telling us that when we fulfill the works of mercy with our neighbor; clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, visiting the sick, etc.; these works we are doing to Himself (Matthew 25:34-40), and he also told us not only to do this with those we like, but also with our enemies, because only then will we be considered children of our Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:43- 48).
Let us renew our call to holiness, let us not hold grudges that the only thing they do is distance us from the kingdom of heaven, rather let us practice the works of mercy and so that at the end of time we will be considered children of our Heavenly Father.