Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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“Love your enemies.” This is, perhaps, one of the most difficult sayings of Jesus to fulfill in all of the Gospels. Loving enemies is not natural. It is supernatural. Only those with God’s grace will ever be able to accomplish it. Jesus shows it to us when he prays for his tormentors from the cross; “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
He gives several examples that flesh this out.
Do good to those who curse you.
Pray for those who mistreat you.
Offer the other cheek for one who strikes you.
In summary: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This includes our enemies.
Is this possible? Yes. Jesus has shown us the way. So have many of the saints who went peacefully to their martyrdom, or who endured great persecution with extraordinary love.
Perhaps Jesus wants us to love our enemies for two reasons.
First, hatred isn’t good for the soul or the spirit. Hatred is like a cancer that eats us from the inside out. Hatred transforms us into people who do not look like we are made in the image of God. Hatred destroys families, friendships, and even one’s relationship with God.
Second, love can transform enemies, and God wants all of us to be saved. So doing good for, praying for, and being extremely patient with our enemies is a way to save them too.
I think of the musical, “Les Misérables.” At its beginning, the recently released and impoverished Jean Valjean, having no place to stay, was put up for the night in the archbishop’s house. But, before he left, Valjean stole some of the archbishop’s silverware to sell for cash. A policeman caught him with the stolen goods and brought him before the archbishop for identification purposes. But instead of accusing the thief, the archbishop went back into the house, and brought out more silver and said to him, “My friend, you left so early. Surely something slipped your mind. You forgot I gave these also. Would you leave the best behind.” Continuing his talk with Valjean, the archbishop sings, “But remember this my brother, see in this some higher plan. You must use this precious silver to become a better man. By the witness of the martyrs, by the passion and the blood, God has raised you out of darkness. I have bought your soul for God.”
Valjean’s life was now changed forever. Valjean sings about the archbishop’s act of kindness, “Why did I allow this man to touch my soul and teach me love? He treated me like any other. He gave me his trust. He called me brother. My life he claims for God above. Can such things be? For I had come to hate the world. This world that always hated me. Take an eye for an eye. Turn your hearts into stone. This is all I have lived for. This is all I have known. He told me I have a soul. How did he know? What spirit comes to move me. . . Another story must begin.”
Yes, love can change lives – even the lives of those who hurt us and hate us. And sometimes, when we just don’t have it within us to forgive, at least we can pray, “What I can’t do, Lord, I know you can do.” Of course, if we are in danger, we can, and often should, flee — and still try to love our tormentors. And, if we are reconciled with someone who has harmed us, it does not mean that life will then go back to the way it was before. The consequences of some things can’t be changed. Still, love is always required.
Friends, every one of our enemies has a soul. Every one of them is loved by God. Every one of them is a brother, or a sister, even if they hate us – and that is why the Lord asks us to transform them with love, instead of pushing them deeper into the cesspool of hate with our own. That only drags us down the same dark hole.
And that is why Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” For them and for us.
Have a blessed week everyone.