Readings: 1 Sm. 1:26-2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 1 Cor. 15:45-49; Lk 6:27-38
Love Your Enemies and Do Good to Them
1. Today's readings deal with issues of forgiveness, hatred, revenge, rancor, hurt and stressful relationships. It is easy to love those who love us, our friends, and those we love. But does that make us Christians? We would not be different from pagans, sinners, heathens, and those who do not know God. Christianity urges us to be different, to stand out, and to act in ways opposite to the norm and the expected. In doing things differently, we demonstrate to the world that we are followers of Christ. In the first reading, David showed this Christ-like attitude in how he treated Saul, who was out to kill him. David had Saul, his archenemy, at his fingertip and would have killed him without anyone knowing. Saul's guards were asleep. But David would not do it. He respected the image of God in Saul and spared his life.
2. David did not do anything to warrant the hatred between him and Saul. If anything, David had put his life in danger for Saul’s reputation. He killed Goliath, the mighty warrior of the Philistines so that Saul and his kingdom would enjoy peace. For his valor women sang in his praises, attributing thousands to Saul and tens of thousands to David. “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” (1 Sam 18:7). Saul’s jealousy raised its ugly head against David and he was determined to kill him. St James rightly observed: “Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but cannot obtain; you fight and wage war.” (James 4:1-6). Jealousy and inordinate desire for things beyond our reach often create enmity between friends and members of families. We should avoid having enemies at all costs. We must forgive those who have grievances against us, and we must offer forgiveness when asked and live in peace with others. In today's gospel, Jesus exhorts the crowd to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. He gave a reason why we should behave in this way: "…that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."(Mt 5:44-48). God is "Kind to the ungrateful and the wicked." (Lk 6:35). We are more like God if we treat our enemies as God treats us. God has no favorites, but he sees us all as created in his image and likeness. “He is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).
3. Soren Kierkegaard admonished, "Never cease loving a person, and never give up hope for him, for even the prodigal son, who had fallen most low, could still be saved. The bitterest enemy and also he who was your friend could again be your friend; love that has grown cold can kindle again." We have been hurt many times, but do not forget that you have hurt people too. If we ask God for forgiveness and mercy, the more reason we should extend the same to others. Christ reminds us, "So will my heavenly Father do to you unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart," Mt. 18:35. Thomas Fuller was right when he observed: "He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself: for every man needs to be forgiven."
4. To forgive and do good to those who hate us is difficult indeed if we were to do it on our own. But we have the Christ who prayed for those who killed him on the cross. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Lk 23:34. If we go to him for help, he will surely assist us. God will always be with us if we trust him and go to him for help to forgive those who hurt us. And you will truly be rewarded with happiness and peace each time you dare to forgive those who hurt you and pray for them.
5. Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you who treated your enemies with love and prayed for those who nailed you to the cross, teach me to forgive those who hate me and speak ill of me behind my back. Give me the courage and strength I need to love and pray for them. May I never be mean to people who are mean to me but let me always treat them with love and respect! Amen.
Rev. Augustine Inwang, MSP
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