Gospel: Matthew 5: 43-48
The commandment of love applies to all people without exception, including our enemies. It is a shocking teaching for Jesus' time as well as our own. We struggle with the commandment of love even for those we claim to like; how often is our love fickle and self-centered even in these relationships. But now imagine the idea of loving our enemies when we are consumed with our murderous thoughts and things we say about other people.
Consider the modern Christian and his active to do list regarding the treatment of enemies: the constant drum of war justified at all times; the execution of prisoners and their maltreatment in a retributive inhumane system; the animus toward foreigners, immigrants, refugees, and migrants; the vitriol leveled against Muslims, Jews, non-Christians, other Christians not of our tribe, and anyone else who crosses our nativist theology. The teaching of Jesus regarding our enemies is not one we remotely try to abide.
This teaching of Jesus is one he lived in his own life. He healed, liberated, and fed people of all backgrounds. He ate with his friends and his enemies. He ate at table with his betrayer, denier, and abandoners. He forgave those who executed him, offering a general absolution to all. Jesus practiced this love and showed us the way in concrete terms. This Lent let us imitate the Lord and walk away from the false Christianity of the day.
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