Sunday, 23 February 2025. Readings: 1 Sam. 26:2,7-9,11-13,22-23, Ps. 103:1-4,8,10,12-13, 1 Cor. 15:45-49, Luke 6:27-38
“But I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27-28)
On the night of his arrest, Peter took out a sword to fight for Jesus. In one swift move, he cut off the ear of the High Priest’s slave. He was about to strike again when Jesus stopped him. When did Peter, the fisherman, start carrying a sword? Where did he receive training for physical combat? Last Sunday, we heard Jeremiah say: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man.” If Jesus had not intervened, would Peter have been able to fight all those who came to arrest Jesus?
Was it not this same Peter who asked Jesus how often he would forgive his brother when wronged? (Matthew 18:21) Definitely, Jesus’ response (As many as seventy times seven) did not register in his mind. Even when Jesus told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan”, for trying to argue against the path of suffering and the cross, it just didn’t click. On that night, Peter was shocked to the marrow when Jesus said: “Put your sword back, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52).
Jesus even went as far as picking up the ear and restoring it. At that moment, it registered in Peter’s mind that Jesus meant what He said in today’s Gospel passage. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27-28). These men who arrested Jesus were not his friends; they would eventually beat Jesus black and blue, they would strip Him, make a mockery of Him, and rain insults on Him, but Jesus practised what He preached: He loved His enemies.
Right there on the cross, Jesus was able to summon the courage to say: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). In praying like this, Jesus proved himself as the “Son of David” – a man who had the chance of killing his persecutor, Saul but refused. In praying for forgiveness for His enemies, Jesus gave us, His followers, an example. In words and deeds, Jesus, by His very life, taught us to love our enemies. Let us consider our lessons for today:
1. If I Cannot Love My Enemies, I Am Not Like Christ.
Jesus said: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” (Luke 6:32). If I call myself a Christian, I must behave like Jesus, who refused to call down fire from heaven to consume those who arrested Him. Being a Christian is not having a church membership card; it is behaving like Christ. If I cannot let go of hurts and crush my enemies at the slightest opportunity, I am not a Christian. As St. Paul teaches, I am “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal without love” (1 Corinthians 13:1). When last did I do something good for my enemies? When last did I sincerely wish them well or pray that God would be merciful to them and overlook the wrongs they did to me?
2. The First Step to Loving Your Enemies is to See God in Them.
David did not strike Saul when he could because he recognised that Saul was the “Lord’s Anointed.” This was an era of “An eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” (Exodus 21:24-25). Despite Saul's atrocities, David still recognised God’s anointing in Saul. “Who can put forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” (1 Samuel 26:9).
Before you take revenge on someone who has hurt you, remember that this person is still a child of God. Jesus said: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37). Do not label anyone by the nature of their sins. Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. Try to see God in people. In today’s second reading, St. Paul says: “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15:49).
On the Last Day, many would say: “Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?” Then God will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.” And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (Matthew 25:44-46). The “least of these” refers to the “least deserving of your kindness.”
3. The Second Step is to Consider What You Stand to Gain.
a) Sir. Isaac Newton observed, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” This law applies to every aspect of our lives. For every good deed, there is a ripple effect. One kind act of love done to an enemy breaks the cycle of negativity; goodness is passed from one person to another until it comes back to you. Jesus explains this in our Gospel passage as the “Golden Rule.” As you do good to someone (even if they don’t deserve it), people will do good to you. “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” (Luke 6:38).
b) Loving our enemies attracts God’s blessing. From David’s mouth, we hear: “The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness.” (1 Sam. 26:23). When we read that passage further, Saul, moved by David’s act of kindness in sparing his life, declared: “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” (1 Samuel 26:25). Show me a man who is kind to his enemies and I will show you one who will do great things.
c) Loving our enemies gives us an edge over them. By putting Saul in David’s hands, God tested David. If David had killed Saul, he would never have gotten the throne. Martin Luther King Jr. once said: “If our enemies succeed in making us hate them, they have defeated us completely.” Do not hate your enemies; they are important in your journey. Thank God for your troublesome landlord; you would never have considered getting your house if not for him. Our enemies bring out the best in us. Knowing you have enemies keeps you on your toes; you dare not take your spiritual life for granted.
d) As a little child, my worst enemies were my classroom teachers, who flogged me. Today, I cannot thank them enough. This is why you should never rush to revenge. Try to see the big picture; God has a reason for giving you enemies. Your real enemies might be those you call friends today.
4. The Third Step is to Show Kindness to Them
After collecting Saul’s spear and jar of water, David carefully tiptoed away without waking anyone in the entire army. David went to the other side (maintaining a great space between them) and stood on a mountain before calling out to Saul. There is a difference between loving your enemies and giving them the chance to destroy you. Jesus said: “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16).
An act of kindness to an enemy is more effective than a fight. In Proverbs 25:21-22, we read: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for (by so doing), you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” One day, God will put your enemies into your hands. He will cause them to sleep deeply like Saul and his men. It is their turn today; tomorrow will certainly be yours. Prepare your mind for what to do, but remember that kindness works better than revenge.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, teach us to love our enemies as you love us. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: 1 Sam. 26:2,7-9,11-13,22-23, Ps. 103:1-4,8,10,12-13, 1 Cor. 15:45-49, Luke 6:27-38).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu