Reading of the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke (6,27-38):
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “I say to those who listen to me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who revile you. Whoever hits you on one cheek, present him the other; To the one who takes your cloak, leave your tunic also. Give to the one who asks you; Whoever takes what is yours, do not claim it back. Treat others as you want them to treat you. Well, if they love only those who love them, what merit do they have? Even sinners love those who love them. And if they do good only to those who do them good, what merit do they have? Also sinners do it. And if they lend only when they expect to collect, what merit do they have? Sinners also lend to other sinners, with the intention of collecting it. No! Love your enemies, do good and lend without expecting anything; they will have a great prize and they will be children of the Most High, who is good to the wicked and ungrateful. Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate; do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; Give, and it will be given to you: they will pour you a generous measure, heaped up, shaken together, running over. The measure they use, they will use with you.” Lord’s word.
Having learned the commandment to love God and our neighbor, we seemed to have well understood all the consequences that it brought to us Christians; The idea made us peaceful, because it was nothing more than “don’t do to another what you don’t want them to do to you”. But, that we love our enemies, already sounds unheard of, a demand that has no head or tail, and yet, when we analyze the Gospel we see the way Jesus did it in his time, also much to the chagrin of his disciples. And, in effect, Jesus does not notice whether what he commands is practicable or simply useful. He does not stop to think if it is possible or profitable. Rather than seeking change from the one who hates us, he wants us to change, ceasing to hate him, even though he continues to detest us, precisely because he doesn’t love us.
And it is that you do not have to love the enemy to turn him into a friend. Jesus does not ask for an effective love, he demands a totally free one, without counting the reaction of the beloved enemy, we will have to love him… And in case there is any doubt, Jesus maintains his position, adding the imposition of doing well, saying well and prayer in favor of those who harass, curse or mistreat us; Whoever is distinguished by his hostility, the disciple must distinguish with beneficence and prayer. Doing good, speaking well and praying for the enemy are concrete ways of loving him, the irrefutable proof that we fulfill the mandate.
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Jesus does not think of ruling over our hearts: love for the enemy is not a matter of feelings but of behavior. He does not force us to change what is not within our reach, but he forces us to act with the enemy as if he were not; to do good to someone or avoid speaking badly, it is not necessary to feel good with him, nor does it require having him as a friend. Although this does not make the precept any easier, it certainly makes it possible. The obligation is exaggerated, because Jesus’ claim is exaggerated: just as the Father behaves, he wants his children to come from him. Since God loves without limit or prejudice, his believers are to love without resistance or excuses. Enjoy your Sunday, accompanied by God and your family!
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