Scripture:
1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Luke 6:27-38
Reflection:
In the midst of political divisions in our country and in the world, including war and violence, in the midst of people interpreting what is going on in vastly different ways, in the midst of condemnation all around, we have Jesus saying in our Gospel reading for Sunday (Luke 6:27-38): “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
As a Passionist, as a pastor, as a preacher, as a Christian, I ask myself, “Should I risk alienating some people by choosing sides? Does choosing sides give me the license to condemn others? And did not Jesus say, ‘Do not condemn?’”
And so my approach to these words of Jesus is to ask more questions:
When Jesus speaks challenging words to us such as those in our Gospel reading, do we listen, or do we dismiss them as too naive, or impractical, or even dangerous? Is Jesus a “voice in the wilderness” when He challenges us about our judgment and condemnation of others? Have we decided that it is a sin to “be merciful?”
Are we to listen to hate and fear, or even worse, apathy and indifference, or are we to listen to Jesus’ commandment to love? Does it matter what happens to others as well as ourselves?
Are those we consider “other” because of the color of their skin, their legal status, country of origin, first language, religious beliefs, or non-belief, sexual orientation, political opinions, gender, age, economic status, and other considerations, necessarily enemies? Look again at how Jesus defines enemies: those who hate us, curse us, mistreat us. Are those we are tempted to hate really doing those things to us? Even if they were, we are still told to love them.
To love our enemies is not to condone wrongdoing or injustice. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, we do not have to like our enemies or go along with what they’re doing, but we are called to love them because God loves them. As Jesus says, “But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” In love, not self-righteousness, we are called to work for justice and strive for peace. Whether we approve of what is going on in our government or not, real people’s lives are affected. In our first reading (1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23), David has been pursued by Saul, and there is an opportunity to kill Saul. But David says, “Do not harm him, for who can lay hands on the Lord’s anointed and remain unpunished?” Why would we be so eager to disrupt and uproot the lives of God’s beloved?
May we take the words of Jesus seriously, no matter how unreasonable they may seem.
Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.