It takes a lot of energy to hate someone. If you're angry at a friend and decide you hate him, you have to be angry every time you see him. You make fists, look mean and say nasty things. You even have to forget the fun you had together, so you can stay mad!

Jesus knew that it's harder to hate someone than to love them " so in this week's Gospel (Matthew 22:34-40), He gives people an easy lesson: Love people instead.

"Teacher," Jesus was asked, "which commandment is the greatest?" He answered: "Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul and mind. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

When you're mad at someone, you don't want to hear about loving her. She hurt you, and you don't like her! But a little part of you wishes she'd say she's sorry, so you could be friends again.

That's why Jesus told the Gospel story. He said that even if you don't like what someone did, you can still love the person " and that makes it easier to forgive and start over again.

But when you hate someone, you don't even understand why God made that person in the first place! So if you don't love God first, it's hard to love other people. Jesus asked us to love God as hard as we can " with our hearts, souls and minds.

If you keep loving God no matter much you hate another person, you might start to believe God had a reason for making him " and if God loves that person, maybe you can love something about him, too.

Even when you're tired of hating someone, she can be hard to love. You aren't angry, but you don't want to be friends, either. That's why Jesus said to love others like ourselves: If you remember the most awful thing you ever did, you know you're still a good person. If you still love yourself, it's easier to love another person who's done something terrible to you.

Remember, Jesus loves everyone " no matter how much you hate them.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, teach me to uncurl my fists and hug someone instead! Amen.

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