7th Sunday Ordinary Time Yr A

SEVENTH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME YR A 19TH FEB 2014 LEVITICUS 19:1-2, 17-18 Ps 103 1st COR 3:16-23 MATTHEW 5:38-48 LOVE FOR ENEMIES

SEVENTH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME YR A
19TH FEB 2014

LEVITICUS  19:1-2, 17-18
Ps 103
1st COR 3:16-23
MATTHEW 5:38-48

LOVE FOR ENEMIES



If someone insults you or tries to take advantage of you, how do you respond?
Do you repay in kind? Jesus approached the question of
just retribution with a surprising revelation of God's intention for how we should treat others, especialy those who mistreat us. When Jesus spoke about
God’s law, he did something no one had done before. He gave a new standard based not just on
the requirements of justice – giving each their due
– but based on the law of love and mercy.
Jesus knew the law and its intention better than any jurist or legal expert could imagine. He quoted from the oldest recorded law in the world (also known as
the lex talionis or law of retaliation): " If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for
burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe" (Exodus 21:23-25; see also Leviticus 24:19,20 and Deuteronomy 19:21). Such a law today seems cruel, but it was meant to limit vengeance as a first
step towards mercy. This law was not normally taken literally but served as a guide for a judge in a
law court for assessing punishment and penalty
(see Deuteronomy 19:18).
The Old Testament is full
of references to the command that we must be merciful:
You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I
am the LORD (Leviticus 19:18). If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink (Proverbs
25:21). Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done"(Proverbs 24:29).
Let him give his cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults
(Lamentations 3:30).
Grace and loving-kindness
In Jesus' teaching on the law he does something quite remarkable and unheard of. He transforms the
old law of justice and mercy with grace (favor) and loving-kindness. Jesus also makes clear that there
is no room for retaliation. We must not only avoid returning evil for evil, we must also seek the good
of those who wish us ill. Do you accept insults, as Jesus did, with no resentment or malice? When you are compelled by others to do more than you think is resonable, do you resist by claiming your rights, or do you respond with grace and cheerfulness?
What makes Christians different from others and what makes Christianity distinct from any other
religion? It is grace – treating others not as they deserve but as God wishes them to be treated –
with loving-kindness and mercy. God is good to the unjust as well as the just.His love embraces saint and sinner alike. God seeks our highest good and teaches us to seek the greatest good of others, even those who hate and abuse us. Our love for others, even those who are ungrateful and selfish towards us, must be marked by the same kindness
and mercy which God has shown to us. It is easier to show kindness and mercy when we can expect to
benefit from doing so. How much harder when we can expect nothing in return. Our prayer for those who do us ill both breaks the power of revenge and releases the power of love to do good in the face of evil.
How can we possibly love those who cause us harm or ill-will? With God all things are possible.
He gives power and grace to those who believe and accept the gift of the Holy Spirit. His love conquers
all, even our hurts, fears, prejudices and griefs.
Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment
and gives us the courage to return evil with good.
Such love and grace has power to heal and to save from destruction. Do you know the power of Christ’s redeeming love and mercy?

“O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray, with the graces of your Holy Spirit; with love, joy, peace,
patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. Teach us to love those
who hate us; to pray for those who despitefully use us; that we may be the children of your love, our
Father, who makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the
unjust. In adversity grant us grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door
of our lips; may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

(Prayer of Anselm,
1033-1109)

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