READINGS FOR THE SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C, SUNDAY 23RD FEBRUARY, 2025.
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 on the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. My reflection today focuses on the theme: love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. Today’s reflection 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 or mercy begins. In charity, we receive what is duly due for us. Charity exemplifies the true notion of mercy. 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.
Today’s Psalmist expresses human frailty and the yearning for divine intervention. It echoes the despair that often accompanies encounters with adversaries. The Psalmist testifies that, “The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy. He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults. As a father has compassion on his sons, the Lord has pity on those who fear him.” (Psalm 102).
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.
Today’s Gospel Reading according to Luke, reveals Jesus’ radical command. He says: love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. This is an invitation to embody divine grace in the face of hostility. 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.” 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. (Luke 6:27-38).
In today’s First Reading, David exemplifies the profound framework of loving an enemy by sparing Saul’s life. He challenges us to transcend vengeance. 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?” 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. (1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 11-13, 22-23).
In our Second Reading, St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians contrasts the earthly and heavenly man. St. Paul echoed that: “The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so are we in heaven.” This statement underscores the transformative potential of Christ-like love to elevate our human nature to Divine nature. (1 Corinthians 15:45-49).
This synthesis of the scriptural readings above reveals an existential theological vision where love of enemy is not mere sentiment but a transformative existential reality. It calls us to reflect divine love in our interactions. This involves embracing vulnerability, humility, love and mercy as pathways to true spiritual elevation and communion with God. This vision aligns with the nature and reality of God.
Hence, we are commanded to love our enemies as Jesus loves us. 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 humble, compassionate and merciful to each other, as always through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fr. Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM.