Fresh Dew Media

 7^TH SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: LOVE OF ENEMIES: HUMAN FOOLISHNESS VS DIVINE WISDOM

(Luke 6:27-38)

The heart of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is love. Love comes with different faces. Love ordinarily goes to friends, but Jesus gives us extraordinary virtue as Christians to incorporate foes more in our agenda of love and compassion via the following instructions:

 

NEVER TO RETALIATE

 The ordinary thing to do is to retaliate when we're hurt. The one who hurts us or derives joy in seeing us sad is definitely our enemy. He even wishes us dead. The human voice will immediately speak: kill him for he doesn't want your good, do not spare him, strike him, this is an opportunity, what are you waiting for? If you miss this moment you're a big fool etc. But see what Jesus says: Do good to your hater, yes, I know he hates you but be good anyway. He curses you, right? Do not stand and give it back to him. Oh no! Bless him, dear. He's not treating you fine. Pray for him. Oh yes, he really needs it. You're not at the same level.

 

APPLY THE GOLDEN RULE

Treat people the way you'd like them to treat you. Don't treat people according to the standard they scheme. Use your standard as God's child to treat them. They pinch and punch you? you feel bad, you'd not like that done to you. Never do it to them. No matter who's involved, if it's not what you will feel comfortable with when done to you, then avoid doing it to others. If you do not want your child to die in election violence, why should you pay and encourage other people's sons and daughters to expose themselves to death? If you love your good name, why destroy the others' name because you see him as your enemy?

 

GO BEYOND YOUR ENEMY IN VIRTUES

You've got not to operate at the same level with the unrighteous, the man who doesn't care about Christian values, even though he may be a Christian. You are his opposite. You stand for virtues, and he represents the vices. He throws vicious stones at you, and you return virtuous fruits to him. He fails to greet you. You greet him first even when he doesn't accept. He says no to you when you come to borrow, you lend him when he comes to you. He fails to invite you for an occasion, you invite him and give him a special place in your own celebrations. He gives you expecting something in return, you give without any expectations.

 

BE COMPASSIONATE

This is a divine attribute. God wants us to share in it. It is the ability to feel with the other. Whosever is the person, put yourself in his shoes and feel what the person feels at a particular point in time. We've lost compassion in our age. People who start fighting these days either stop when they get tired of fighting or when they kill each other. Instead of having the human feeling to look for a way to separate them, people stand aloof with cameras taking snapshots and videos. The other woman who is not my wife who is in labour receives no favour from me because we had a quarrel yesterday. When a Christian loses the sensitivity of compassion, he becomes a devil incarnate. 'I don't care attitude' is not for us Christians.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Almighty God and Father help us to love all, especially those who hate us.

Grant us the grace to forgive those who trespassed and continues to trespass against us. May we convert our hardened enemies with love.

Give us abundant grace and divine gifts in full measure, running over.

May we never follow our enemies in evil but continue doing good come what may through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HAPPY SUNDAY TO YOU (7th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh