The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr. Francisco Estepa, SVD — Holy Name University, Bohol
Saturday 1st Week of Lent
A guy robbed a bank and took hostages. During the robbery his mask slipped off. He asked one of the hostages “Did you see my face?” The hostage answered “Yes,” and the robber shot him. Then he asked another hostage, a lady. “Did you see my face?” The lady answered “No,” but she said further, “My husband did.”
We have a usual tendency to wish something bad to happen to those people whom we dislike. The challenge of being a follower of Christ is that He wants us to do more than what is usual. In the Gospel reading today, He wants us to love the person that we want to avoid.
This is not an easy thing to do. We often resort to asking ourselves “what if?” kind of questions. What if I approach him and he snobs me. What if she mocks me.
But loving those we dislike, as Christ has commanded, can only be made on the level of faith and not so much on rational argument. This is the reason why we need to ask for God’s grace in prayer to follow this commandment. Because of our faith, this commandment can also be seen as opportunity to grow in Christ. It is an occasion to live with the compassion exemplified by Jesus.
In other words, in living this commandment we try to be perfect just as our Father is perfect.
