Gilderious Khonglah csc –
Readings: 1 Cor 8:1-7, 11-13; Lk 6:27-38
Today’s gospel reading highlights four key aspects of living the Christian life: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. Pope Francis reminds us, “As Christians, we should never engage in gossip or the logic of insults, which only create division. Instead, we should always find time to pray for those who annoy us.
This is the Christian style, the way of Christian living. But what if I don’t do these four things? Loving enemies, doing good to those who hate me, blessing those who curse me, and praying for those who mistreat me—does that mean I’m not a Christian? No, you are still a Christian because you have received Baptism, but you are not living like one. You are living like a pagan, with a spirit of worldliness.”
Jesus’ teaching may not be easy to understand, but it provides concrete examples of what God’s love looks like in its purest form. He offers us a clear guide on how to love as God loves. Jesus asks us to love even the unlovable. Why? Here are a couple of reasons: Firstly, this is how God loves us. He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked and he wants us to be merciful, just as he is merciful.
Secondly, Jesus calls us to love our enemies because, by doing so, we become visible signs of the gospel in the world. While it is common for people, even sinners, to love those who love them and to lend to those who will repay, Jesus urges us to stand out by loving those who do not return our love. The world should be astonished by our radical love for our enemies. Graceful and loving Christians are among the greatest witnesses to God’s love and grace in the world.