Readings: 1 Sam. 26:2, 7-9; 1 Cor. 15:45-49; Lk 6:27-38
How Do You Treat Those Who Hate
You?
Today’s readings deal
with forgiveness, hatred, revenge, rancor, hurt, and stressful relationships.
It is very easy to love those who love us, our friends, and those we are well
disposed towards. But does that make us Christians? We would not be different
from the pagans, sinners, heathens, and those who do not know God. Christianity
calls us to be different, to stand out, and to act in ways that are opposite to
the norm and the expected. By doing things differently, we can show the world
that we are followers of Christ. In the first reading, David demonstrated this
Christ-like attitude in the way he treated Saul, who was out to kill him. David
had Saul, his archenemy, at his fingertip and would have killed him without
anyone knowing: Saul’s guards were all asleep. But David would not do it. He
respected the image of God in Saul and spared his life. In the sermon on the
Mount, Jesus exhorts the crowd to love their enemies and pray for those
persecuting them. He gave us a reason why we should behave this way: “…that you
may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad
and the good and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. So be perfect,
just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Mt 5:44-48.
Soren Kierkegaard
admonished, “Never cease loving a person, and never give up hope for him, for
even the prodigal son, who had fallen most low, could still be saved. The
bitterest enemy and he who was your friend could again be your friend; love
that has grown cold can kindle again.” We know that we have been hurt many
times, but do not forget that you have hurt people many times too. If we ask
God for forgiveness and mercy, the more reason we should extend the same to
others. Christ was quick to remind us, “So will my heavenly Father do to you
unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart,” Mt. 18:35. Thomas
Fuller was right when he observed: “He that cannot forgive others breaks the
bridge over which he must pass himself: for every man has need to be forgiven.”
To forgive and do good to those who hate us
is very difficult indeed if we were to do it on our own. But we have the Christ
who prayed for those who killed him on the cross as our leader and guide. If we
go to him for help, he will surely assist us. God will always be with us if we
trust him and go to him for help to forgive those who hurt us. And you will
truly be rewarded with happiness and peace each time you dare to forgive those
who hurt you and pray for them.
Let
our prayer this week be: Lord Jesus, you who treated your enemies
with love, and prayed for those who nailed you to the cross, teach me to
forgive those who hate me and speak ill of me behind my back. Give me the
courage and strength I need to love and pray for them. May I never be mean to
people who are mean to me but let me treat them with love and respect today and
always. Amen.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.
