LOVE IS WHAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

 

Homily for the 7^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scriptural Texts: 1 Samuel 26:2.7-9.12-13.22-23, 1 Corinthians 15:45-49, Luke 6:27-38

 

Love and enemies are words that seem mutually exclusive. Loving our enemies goes contrary to what feels right or normal. Hating an enemy is what comes naturally. But the first and gospel readings of this 7^th Sunday invite us to think differently. In a world dominated by bitterness, rancor, animosity, and revenge, Jesus instructs us to choose the path of love because as Christians, love is the only thing that sets us apart from pagans and sinners (Luke 6:32-33). Love is what makes all the difference. The Beatitudes of last Sunday’s gospel and the exhortations of Jesus in today’s gospel reading are like instruction manuals for those who want to be followers of Jesus.

In the gospel reading, Jesus instructs us to love our enemies; to do good to those who hate us; to bless those who curse us; and to pray for those who treat us badly. Amongst other things, he tells us also that if someone slaps us on one cheek, we should offer the other as well. And if someone takes our coat, we should offer our shirt also (Luke 6:27-30). As human beings, these teachings of Jesus seem very impossible and unrealistic. In truth, it is difficult but not impossible. Forgiving and loving our enemies is a choice that has to be made by us and then, with the aid of God’s grace, we are able to extend this love and forgiveness to our enemies. If we try to love our enemies apart from God’s help, it may be possible that our love will not be genuine; not from the heart.

There are times when we find no reason to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us. In those moments, let us remember these two reasons. First, we are to love our enemies because God who is love himself has commanded to do so (Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-36). Second, we are to love our enemies because God himself has done the same to us through Jesus Christ. As St. Paul tells us in his letters, it was when we were still sinners (God’s enemies) that Christ died for our sins (Romans 5:8-10, Colossians 1:21). If God loves us even in our sinfulness- when we are estranged to him, then, we too have every reason to love others including our enemies (1 John 4:10-11).

Loving our enemies does not mean aligning with or loving the evil/wrong that they do. Loving our enemies means seeing them as human beings in need of the Father’s love and mercy, and knowing that God can show them his love and mercy through us. It means looking for their ultimate good even when it may seem as if they do not merit it. It means ensuring that the cycles of hate, revenge and retaliation stop with us. You can be angry at someone because of their wrong action and still love them. Jesus for instance was upset at the people of Jerusalem for how they abused and murdered the prophets, but he still shed loving tears over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34).

Dear friend, let the example of David in the first reading inspire and challenge all of us. David had every opportunity to take a pound of flesh on King Saul who has been pursuing him to kill. But when Saul was delivered into his hand, David chose the path of love, mercy and non-violence. He chose to repay evil with good. Let us ask the Lord to grant us the grace not to treat people as bad as they are but to treat them as good as we are. Let us also ask the Lord to forgive us for the times we have used vicious, violent methods to get even, or to get revenge from our enemies and offenders.