Tuesday, June 17, 2003
11th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: 2 Cor 8:1-9
Gospel: Mt 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples, "You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy. But this I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good, and he gives rain to both the just and the unjust.

"If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not even tax collectors do as much? And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that? Do not even the pagans do as much? For your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way your heavenly Father is righteous and perfect."

Commentary

What can be more contradictory than loving one's enemies? It is not natural! We can try to explain that to love is not to like. To love is simply to will the good of another. Yes, but to will the good of one you dislike or even hate? To love one's enemy is simply beyond us. It is so unnatural to us that if Jesus commands it, we must be more than natural. And we are, because we are graced beings, imbued with the power of God dwelling in us. If we must love our enemies and end all bitterness and anger in our hearts, we must fall on our knees begging that natural impulses may be transformed by the grace of God. We must allow God to be God in our hearts.

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