No Exceptions!

 

If last week I started my homily with “Phew,” this weekend, I like to start by saying, “Wow!” Listen to the gospel once again. “When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles…. Love your enemies.” That’s a wow! 

 

In one sense, the gospel reading today does not need a homily or further explanation.  It does not need any cultural background or even looking at it from Latin, Hebrew, or Aramaic translations. It is self-explanatory.  Although some of us might be tempted to unpack such a beautiful gospel, I believe if we do, we lose the thrust of what Jesus is trying to tell us.  We might even lessen the impact of Jesus’ message, which I believe us is the cutting edge of Christianity – love your enemies!   

 

This commandment seems impossible.  Has God asked us to do the impossible? 

 

Several years ago, Helen, a member of the RCIA team shared a striking story with those who were preparing for the initiation sacraments.  She told us about her son who was brutally killed.  As she was narrating the story, I could not even begin to imagine nor understand the pain, the sorrow, the agony that Helen and her family felt as their loved one was suddenly taken away from them. The man who killed her son was arrested, tried, and put in prison.  Several months after the funeral, despite opposition from her family, Helen made the courageous decision to visit the man who killed her son.  She went to San Quentin.  She had a conversation with him and towards the end of it, she said, “I forgive you. I forgive you.” Helen’s family was not supportive of what she did.   But she continued to visit the man every month. 

 

After Helen shared her story.  I asked myself, “Where did Helen get the courage to forgive?  Where did that come from?” 

 

In our first reading today, God asked Moses to gather the people to share a message.  “The Lord said to Moses, speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them, “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.  You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart.  Take no revenge or cherish no grudge against any of your people.  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  

 

“Neighbor” in the Old Testament, especially for the Israelites, referred to one who belongs to their community.  Those who are one with them.  Centuries later, Jesus takes this commandment a step further.   You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies.” Love those who think differently than you.  Love those who live differently than you.  Love those who are outside of your community, those of different races and colors.  Love your enemies. 

 

God said, “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy” and Jesus said, “Be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” What God is asking of us is nothing less than what God did for us.   In the words of St. Paul in the 5th chapter of the Letter to the Romans, God loved us even while we were still God’s enemies; God reconciled us to Himself through the death of His Son.  That’s what we must strive to do.  

 

What makes Jesus’ commandment so challenging is when it comes to loving, there are no exceptions.  Jesus doesn’t say love your enemies except… –  He doesn’t go there. He doesn’t say love your enemies except your neighbor who has a dirty yard and is noisy all the time.   He doesn’t say love your enemies expect your boss who passed you over for a promotion or love your enemies except your best friend who betrayed you, or love your enemies except your EX, well, you know, or love your enemies except a sister or brother who does not accept their fair share in the inheritance.  When it comes to loving, there are no exceptions! 

 

Christian love is not some kind of contract where you say, “I will love you only if you love me back.” Our call is not to react to being loved or not; our call is to love regardless.  There is no other way to act if we are true followers and disciples of Christ.  There is no other way except to love. 

 

Just look at Jesus.  Even when the agenda was against Him and people were out to kill Him, He never opted for anything, but performed the supreme act of love. He did it because he was so rooted in who He was and is. as the Son of God.  

 

I know that the command of Jesus to love our enemies seems impossible, but Helen taught me there are times in our life when we can do it.  We can do it only if we begin to love without exceptions.