“Love your enemies.”

This coming Sunday's Gospel reading continues to come to us from Luke's Sermon on the Plain. And, if you take time to read it, it contains some of the most challenging of all of Jesus' statements, especially within our modern political context. The reading begins with Jesus saying "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." He gives no conditions, sets no limits, makes no caveats.

This one sentence of Christ, and the witness of Christians who have actually lived it out, has impressed and won over many to the faith, as the age old saying goes: "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." The stories of the martyrs, from 3rd century Rome, to 16th century Japan, to 19th century Africa, in which they cry out in their moments of torment and suffering, asking God to forgive their persecutors and forgiving them themselves, is always incredible to hear. It moved the hearts of an empire, it transformed the lives of many saints, it inspired countless converts. And in an age where the desire for power and dominance has once again taken precedence, even within the Christian family, it seems we have lost ourselves. Or... at least we have lost touch with the Christ who came to show us the way to the Father.

May these words of Christ this week be a reminder to us: the life of a Christian should look different. There is no political party that is the party of Christian values, for neither party espouses these words of Christ. A person may say "you cannot lead by loving and praying for enemies," and Christ would respond "be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:35-36) Another may say, "they don't deserve my mercy or compassion" and Jesus would say, "the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." (Luke 6:38)

Let us pray that the love of our Triune God, who is love itself, may transform our hearts and the hearts of all Christians. May we cease hating and seeking revenge or retribution and in turn follow the command of the Son, even if it’s difficult: "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

Want to prepare your heart and mind for Sunday's Mass? Click here to find the readings.