Christianity is manifested especially in the works of.

Have you ever walked down the street and a neighbor with whom you have been at loggerheads for a long time roamed across the street? As he approached you, various memories were swirling around in your head, and suddenly the neighbor greeted you. You first looked at him in amazement; then you said hello, and then you started talking to him. Eventually, it became clear that you weren’t such great enemies and that all the irregularities would be sorted out.

Jesus says: “If you love those who love you, what reward can you expect? Do not even the tax collectors do this? And if you greet only your brothers, what special thing do you do?” (Mt 5:46-47)

In the Old Testament, it was confirmed that my neighbor is only a `suspect,’ that is, a Jew, and only to him am I to show love, while others are to be regarded as sinners and enemies. That is, I am not even to greet them and show them good deeds – this is what the Pharisees followed. They welcomed only their equals, not publicans and sinners, who to them were outcasts of humanity, traitors to their country.

But Jesus asks us as Christians to act differently, to “do something special.” Greeting in oriental countries meant much more than mere courtesy. Greeting meant wishing blessings and peace on another.

We Christians are to do something special to distinguish ourselves from the pagans. Jesus asks us to pray for our persecutors, love our enemies, and be great sinners. For we are all children of our heavenly Father, and we are all brothers to one another. And so we are conformed to our infinitely merciful Father.

St. Peter writes that we are called to bless others so that we may become heirs of a calling (cf. 1 Pet. 3:9). So we Christians are to distinguish ourselves from others by blessing even our enemies.

In the early Church, it is known that “all believers were of one heart and one soul” (Acts 4:32). They loved one another, and this love of theirs penetrated to those who had not yet believed in Christ, and the Gentiles themselves pointed to the Christians and said among themselves, “See how they love one another,” and this love brought them to faith in Christ. Even when they persecuted Christians and imprisoned them, the Christians did not behave rudely and disrespectfully, leading to many conversions.

We see that it pays to be unique and not conform to this world and do what this world asks of us. Most of all, it pays to be like Jesus, to strive for perfection because our heavenly Father is also perfect.

Let us try to conclude by praying in the spirit of today’s Gospel: Lord Jesus, you alone teach us how to love our enemies. You prayed on the cross for those who crucified you. We ask you to grant us the grace to behave as you did so that we too may become heirs of eternal blessing.