Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Felmar Fiel SVD – Verbum, Los Banos, Laguna
Thursday 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
There was a student-seminarian who beat his classmate black and blue. An unfortunate incident as his research paper that year was about love of enemies. Eventually, he was dismissed from the school.
The Gospel for today may be one of the least likely to be listened to. Love of enemies, doing good to those who hate you, blessing those who curse you, praying for those who mistreat you – these seem to be so out of this world when every day we hear of violence, terrorism, murder, racism and exclusion all over.
When we are hurt, even by those in the distant past, painful memories stay with us. When we harbor anger and hatred, we tend to believe that clinging to past hurts may hurt the person who did us wrong. On the contrary, it weakens our capacity to love and live.
On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was crossing St. Peter’s Square when an attempt was made on his life. Despite severe blood loss, he survived, and to the great surprise of the whole world – he asked for prayers for his would-be-assassin. Two years later, he visited him in prison, and they emerged as friends.
Jesus commands us to love our enemies because God loves them too, without exception. He wants all to experience “life to the full” (John 10:10).
St. John Chrysostom, recommends to all with difficulty loving their enemies that they come to Joseph (one of 12 sons of Jacob), who suffered much in the hands of his brothers; to Saint Stephen, (the photo-martyr) who was stoned, but prayed that his killers be forgiven.
Finally he said: “..and having considered all these things, cast away all anger, that God may forgive us also all our trespasses…”
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