Some words or challenges sound absurd, and we cannot even imagine how they can be implemented. We also find such words and challenges in the Holy Scriptures. Today’s gospel also offers us one such challenge: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who humiliate you! Maybe many will be darkened in front of their eyes at this moment. Love enemies? Should I repay the one who hates me with good? Is it normal? The first who did not understand it at all were Jesus’ disciples. The Pharisees and scribes followed opposite principles, and it was these that Jesus tried to refute.
We must forget that the term neighbor was understood in the Old Testament as a member of the chosen nation. Ceremonial distance had to be maintained towards the Gentiles, while curses or destruction of the enemy nation with everything that belonged to it were not rare. Therefore, we cannot even be surprised that Jesus encounters so much misunderstanding because his words alone sounded scandalous to many. But let’s be honest: even if we do not listen to Jesus’ words about forgiving enemies with enthusiasm, we can apply them in life much less. We encounter anger and hatred in contact with unknown people and, unfortunately, among those closest to us. We see this in irreconcilable married couples who separate a few months after marriage, as well as in divorced parents with children or siblings, often moved to life and death.
Blood vengeance had its roots not only among primitive nations but even today, after two thousand years of Christianity, it flourishes in more sophisticated forms to the chagrin of believers and non-believers. Let’s mention different mafia groups, nationalism, class hatred… Even life, a neighbor’s good name, and respect for people of a different skin, religion, or race mean nothing to these people. Jesus’ words about love, about loving those who do us harm, those who hate and persecute us, must sound disturbing to them. Have we noticed the reasons Jesus gives for this form of love? So your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High because he is good even to the ungrateful and the wicked. Because with what measure you measure, it will be measured to you. And he trampled on these words in the prayer that he taught us, and we pray it several times every day: Father, forgive us our trespasses, as we also forgive our trespassers.
Since we listen to these words, it seems unbelievable that one day, they will find an echo in all human hearts, and all people will start acting on them. However, for us believers, it should not be a utopia but an ideal for which we should decide because Jesus did not remain only with words when proclaiming the law of love. Still, on the cross, he sealed him with a prayer for those who hated him: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do—according to this example of Jesus, Saint Stephen, the apostles, and thousands of other men, women, and children, whose blood became the seed of the new Christians, died with forgiveness on their lips.
The Russian World War was coming to an end. American pilot William flew a reconnaissance plane over a small island in the Pacific Ocean, where he searched for American soldiers who the Japanese had captured. However, he got into an air vortex, so the plane became uncontrollable, so he strove for at least the softest possible impact. He managed to soften the effect with a glide motion, but it threw him out of the cabin. He was hurt and knocked unconscious.
Furthermore, he didn’t know how long he had been unconscious. Suddenly, he heard footsteps, opened his eyes, and saw a Japanese soldier bending over him. He closed his eyes and waited for a shot. However, he did not come, and he felt a pleasant cold on his forehead, which was a wet scarf, and he smelled a water bottle in his mouth. He opened his eyes wide and saw that something had fallen to the ground from the Japanese’s pocket. When he looked better, he saw the rosary. He thought: He’s Catholic and has a cross chain around his neck that his mom gave him. They smiled at each other, and William knew he was protected. Although they had different uniforms and human malice pitted them against each other to kill each other, they were sons of the same Father and brothers of Jesus Christ. They shook hands, and all traces of hatred disappeared from their hearts.
We, instructed by this true story, let us realize that now it is our turn to be able to forgive and give the day of love to the generations that will come after us. When shaking hands during this Holy Mass, let’s be aware that the person sitting next to me is my brother or sister.
