We the Enemy

Today’s Gospel Text: "But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. 31 And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. 32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 37 "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back." Luke 6:27-38

Reflection:  In the first place, who wants an enemy? And yet we could have enemies either because we have opened our mouth in truth or correction or because we have been misunderstood.

But wait a minute if we are already beginning to feel righteous about it already. What do you say about situations when we have passed a judgment on others in the name of truth and correction? Then, have we not acted like enemies to others?

What could be still worse; we not being able to see our faults and yet further rubbing salt into the wounds of people whom we have already condemned or hurt. 

Then you also have a situation, wherein you have listened to the grumbling and complaints of one person and then formed your judgment and condemned the other without listening to the facts of the situation.

Continuing in the same process, we could make enemies of people by passing on all sorts of slander and gossip against a particular person, without having an iota of insight into the facts of the case. This our action may at times may even be performed in all sincerity of heart, compassion and love, with extra concern and zeal.

In all this the greatest reality we see is when we reject the goodnews of Christ and walk not according to its demand nor seek it with all our heart, strength and might then we are living enemies of one another too, beside being an enemy of God.

The ignoble passion of Christ's suffering is for us an example of this stupidity and foolish behavior pattern in human beings: He, the most perfect among all humanity, in any age, faced all these wrongs without bending to the lie that they would want to impose on  him.

His example should be an inspiration for his followers how not to repeat the drama of crucifixion and impose it on a frail sinful but yet innocent humans, beginning with the child of the womb.  

Even in our day such type of innocents are still sacrificed at the altar of sacrifice, when Christ the perfect, unblemished sacrificial lamb has already been slain and continually offered at every altar in the Catholic Church. 

Christ’s message of forgiveness is still valid, but let us not become the enemy we tend to become towards others, when we continue adamantly to do wrong and seek not to correct ourselves in the light of Christian truth.

Prayer: Lord, may I not offer any other sacrifice save the sacrifice of Calvary and through it my sinful self transformed by being dead to sin and alive to Christ.

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