Why Love Our Enemies?

2019년 2월 23일

In college I had a Jewish roommate. Needless to say we had some very interesting late-night discussions about religion. One positive outcome is that I came away with a deeper respect of not only the Jewish faith, but of world religions in general and other Christian denominations in particular. We have so much to learn from one another, not the least of which is how others view us Catholics.

One thing my roommate had been taught about Christianity was that there was nothing new in the so-called New Testament that wasn’t also found in the Old Testament. To be sure, Jesus was a devout Jew and frequently quoted the Hebrew Scriptures, as shown in today’s gospel. But Jesus quotes the Scriptures precisely to contrast his teaching with what has been previously taught. Sometimes Jesus is more lenient, while other times his teaching is stricter.

We can see this in the contrast between our first reading from Leviticus where we hear the familiar: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” to the truly different and revolutionary command of Jesus: “Love your enemies.” But this seems impossible. Why should we love those who make our lives miserable? Who can do that? Jesus answers this as well. We are to be like God, our Heavenly Father. If God loves his enemies, we must do the same. Who are the enemies of God? Not just atheists and heretics, but also us! St. Paul reminds us that us it while we were sinners (that us, enemies of God) Jesus died for us. We who have received such mercy must now extend that same mercy to all, even our enemies.

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