Last Sunday’s Gospel
reading is relevant to us today in facing the Allah issue and our attitude in
confronting our so-called ‘enemies’. Jesus was crystal clear on what we should
do in such situations when we are confronted with such enemies who are unjust
and unreasonable
Jesus was one of the few
who asked us to love not just those who are ours but to love our enemies as well.
It is very easy to love those who like us and are ours but most difficult to love those who hate us and are different from
us.
Jesus had asked us to do something almost
humanly impossible, to love our enemies, to offer the other cheek when struck
on one and never to turn away anyone who comes to us for help. He had demonstrated
his love for his enemies by His passion and death on the cross, how can we keep
to his commandments when confronted by our enemies today?
Great men like Mahatma Gandhi and martin Luther
King Jr. and most recently Nelson Mandela have tried to live up to this principle
of loving their enemies and have succeeded to a great extent, illustrating to
us that we can do it if we put our hearts to it.
As his followers of Christ, let us ask God to
give us the wisdom and courage to love our enemies like the way Jesus did. We
may not be perfect like Him but that is what we must try, doesn’t matter if we
fail.
The reading for the day
Gospel, Matthew
5:38-48
38
'You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.
39
But I say this to you: offer no resistance to the wicked. On the contrary, if
anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well;
40
if someone wishes to go to law with you to get your tunic, let him
have your cloak as well.
41
And if anyone requires you to go one mile, go two miles with him.
42
Give to anyone who asks you, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.
43
'You have heard how it was said, You will love your neighbour and hate your
enemy.
44
But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you;
45
so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he
causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to
fall on the upright and the wicked alike.
46
For if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even the tax
collectors do as much?
47
And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything
exceptional?
48
Do not even the gentiles do as much? You must therefore be
perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.'
