Why we have to Love our Enemies?

Gospel Thoughts*

*Ordinary Season : C Cycle : 7th Week - 7th Sunday*

*GOSPEL -  Lk 6:27-38*

*FIRST READING 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23*

*SECOND READING 1 Cor 15:45-49*

*Why we have to Love our Enemies?*

*1) Jesus Says Love your enemies*

In today's Gospel Jesus says that Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you 

At the out set it appears, this is very difficult and at time unreasonable statement and also impossible gesture in our daily life 

Is Jesus giving us a unreasonable teaching or a impossible teaching to practice? 

Or is there a any hidden meaning in the above statement? Let's try to analyse it, in the following way. 

*2) When we love those who love us - the result is this*

Jesus says *If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?*

In the above sentence, we see a mutual exchange of the things. 

One loves the other because, other loves in returns for the love he/she receives from the first 

So there is nothing extraordinary thing here. 

So Jesus says, there is no credit or there no gain at all here

*3) When we do good to those who do good to us - the Result is this*

Jesus gives another example of similar kind. 

Doing good to each other. At the most two people are benefited, but always with the intention of getting back, what one has 

Jesus says *If you do good to those who do good to you*

So there is no much benefit 

*4)When we lend money to those who give us back - the result is this*

Jesus says *If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?*

Once again this logic depends on giving and receiving back. 

Here there is no generosity or charity is seen. Neither the wellbeing of the person is seen 

So Jesus says such works do not give us any good results 

*5) When we love, do good, and lend money to the enemies - the result is this*

The same above things done to our enemies, the result is different

First of all the person who does it, will not get it back in return 

Secondly, the person has to do without any expections, of getting it back in any way. So it involves total generosity and goodwill of the person 

Thirdly the person intends the wellbeing of the enemy by doing these things 

Fourthly there is a high possibility that the enemy may be transformed and nay become good person. 

*6) Loving enemies is something difficult and unusual*

Loving enemies is not a easy thing and it is something which is unusual 

This is because, as Christians we are not called upon to do easy things and things which involve the results in return 

We are called upon to take unusual way of life, which challenges this wordly way of life. 

We are Christians because we are able to do unusual things, which inspire in us the kingdom values 

*7) When we love enemies, we can expect in return the love only from God*

Since our enemies do not give us in return for our good work, we can expect the reward only from God 

This is the important point to note as we analyse the concept of loving the enemies. 

*8) Better to expect something from God than from the Human beings*

So it is better to expect something from God than from human beings 

By loving our enemies we are blessed by the Lord and the Lord gives us the reward for this great gesture. 

Gods reward endures for ever. But Human reward, remains with us only for a moment 

So better to expect from God than from the wordly things 

In this context, loving once enemy is one of the best example. 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*