READINGS FOR THE SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C, SUNDAY 20TH FEBRUARY, 2022.
First Reading: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 11-13, 22-23
Psalm: 102
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38
REFLECTION BY FR CORNELIUS NWAOGWUGWU, CM
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I welcome you all to the Eucharistic celebration of the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. Today’s celebration renews my thinking about an understanding of Justice and Mercy as “two different concepts that are often expressed in the same sentence or phrase. They are seen together but are very different sentiments”.
In its general perspective, Justice “is the principle that people receive that which they deserve”. Different perspectives can be alluded to this view point of justice. However, justice ends where charity begins. In charity, we receive what is duly due for us. This understanding of these two complimentary concepts give us an idea of the true nature of God. He is just, full of boundless love, compassion and mercy.
As human beings, realistically, we are not quite so kind to the people we seem to consider as our enemies. Sometimes, we may be tempted to treat them unjustly. Jesus explicitly forbade this unchristian attitude.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to us: “Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Jesus further says, “I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. (Luke 6:27-38). This new vision characterizes the lives of the children of the Kingdom of God. Jesus summed up the laws of old through his death on the cross.
In our First Reading, we read how David and Abishai made their way towards the force, where they found Saul lying asleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying round him. Then Abishai said to David, ‘Today God has put your enemy in your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear…’ David answered Abishai, ‘Do not kill him, for who can lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt?” (1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 11-13, 22-23).
David’s action expresses the grace, love and compassion of God that is open to all. This is what makes Christians different. It is the grace with which we treat others with love and mercy, even if they don’t deserve this treatment.
We are commanded to love our enemies as Jesus loves. He died for us on the cross. Hence, Jesus says; “Love your enemies and do good”, “Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate, grant pardon, and you will be pardoned”.
We pray for the grace to be compassionate and merciful to each other, as always through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fr. Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM