“But I say to you, love your enemies”
Jesus gives His disciples a lesson on charity. This lesson will focus on how Jesus gives a course correction for everyone in what was being taught to the people.
Where did “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” come from? This is from a passage in Leviticus which says, “Anyone who inflicts an injury on his neighbor shall receive the same in return. Limb for limb, eye for eye, tooth for tooth! The same injury that a man gives another shall be inflicted on him in return.” [1] This passage and commandment was to moderate vengeance; It in place so that there would not be an escalation in retribution. However, as we see today, Jesus instructs everyone to not seek any kind of retaliation.
Why does Jesus say all this? Jesus wants us to realize that every person is our brother. “a Christian must love friend and enemy without exception. The motive is the same for both: both are children of God, therefore all men are brothers –neighbors. Seen in this light, there is no reason for distinctions between one people and another, between one race and another. There are not even distinctions based on love or hatred, good or evil, kindness or injury, or insults or injustice suffered. Nor is it permissible, for any reason, to hate one’s brother, the son of the same Father, the object of the same paternal love.” [2] If everyone is made in the image and likeness of the same God the Father then we are all brothers of the same father. If we act as brother then we will go the extra mile as Jesus tells us to today. Will there be people who do not accept this, and still see us as their enemy? Yes. However, this does not mean we are to look upon them as our enemy. Our only enemy is Satan and sin, because He is the one who wants us to be separated from the love of God. “Jesus taught us to regard sin as the only true evil and to avoid considering anyone as our personal enemy, and the saints of all times have given heroic witness to these teachings.” [3]
Why charity? Charity inspires all other virtues. St. Gregory of Nazianzen said, “There is nothing in man more divine, more Christlike, than his meekness and patience in doing good.”[4] “The practice of all the virtues is animated and inspired by charity, which ‘binds everything together in perfect harmony’; (Col 3:14.) it is the form of the virtues; it articulates and orders them among themselves; it is the source and the goal of their Christian practice. Charity upholds and purifies our human ability to love, and raises it to the supernatural perfection of divine love.” [5] Practicing virtues animated in charity perfects everything.
What is the opposite of charity? The opposite of charity is hatred. Deliberate hatred is contrary to charity. Hatred of the neighbor is a sin when one deliberately wishes him evil. Hatred of the neighbor is a grave sin when one deliberately desires him grave harm. ‘But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.’” [6]
Why should we show love to our enemies? We show love to everyone because, “Christ died out of love for us, while we were still ‘enemies’.” [7] Jesus showed love to Judas, Pontus Pilate, the Pharisees and Sadducees, and all those who had a hand in His crucifixion. Every time we sin we pit ourselves against Jesus. Yet, every time we go back to Him in Confession, He shows love and forgiveness to us. “Christian prayer extends to the forgiveness of enemies, transfiguring the disciple by configuring him to his Master. Forgiveness is a high-point of Christian prayer; only hearts attuned to God's compassion can receive the gift of prayer. Forgiveness also bears witness that, in our world, love is stronger than sin. the martyrs of yesterday and today bear this witness to Jesus. Forgiveness is the fundamental condition of the reconciliation of the children of God with their Father and of men with one another.” [8] God is stronger than Satan. “Love is stronger than sin” [9] How quick are we to show love to our friends and family who have wronged us in the past? How quickly are we to truly love our enemies?
Where does it say, “love your neighbor and hate your enemy” in Scripture? “Actually, no passage of the Bible prescribed hatred of one’s enemies; it was the practical result of a mutilation of the law becoming the norm of life. Jesus confronts and totally condemns it; he had come to perfect the law, and does so in a special way in regard to charity, which man through selfishness is so much inclined to wound and adulterate.” [10] This is extended to the apostles and Jesus disciples to carry on by their example. “His disciples, as children of God, must imitate the example of their Father, who grants his gifts of sun and rain to both the good and the bad.” [11]
Why do we have to be nice to those who are not fair? This is an old cliché, but simply life is not fair. There will always be people who will abuse and take advantage of others. This does not mean we should fight it with the same evil. God rests on both the just and unjust. “‘Give us’: the trust of children who look to their Father for everything is beautiful. ‘He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.’ He gives to all the living ‘their food in due season.’ Jesus teaches us this petition, because it glorifies our Father by acknowledging how good he is, beyond all goodness.” [12]
Does this mean we can never be angry? No. Evil actions should upset us, and even anger us. Anger in of itself is not a sin. St. Paul says, “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil.” [13] We can be angry at that moment, but we must not let it overtake us, otherwise Satan will have a chance to let the anger boil over. “If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor, it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin. the Lord says, ‘Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment.’” [14]
How can we be more charitable to all, even our enemies? First, and foremost above all we must not be afraid. The early martyrs were not afraid to show witness to the Truth; to shine light in the darkness. They did it with genuine love, but they never backed down. “A disciple of Christ will never treat anyone badly. Error he will call error, but he will correct the person in error with kindliness. Otherwise he will not be able to help him, to sanctify him.” [15]
Practicing charity, even to our enemies, must be small and must be daily. “Most of the time the practice of charity will consist in little details, something as simple as a smile, a word of encouragement, a kind gesture…In the eyes of God all of this is very pleasing and draws us closer to Him.” [16] Discuss other ways you can become more charitable to your enemies or your friends and family enemies.
Lastly, we must remember that we stand in a stark contradiction to the world as Catholics. “The world considers it foolishness to return love for hate, good for evil, and forgiveness for insults; but St. Paul warns that if we want to follow Christ we must make ourselves foolish, ‘for the wisdom of this world is folly with God’ (1 Cor. 3:19), Christians are not to be preoccupied with the world because they are ‘Christ’s and Christ is God’s’ (ibid. 23); being Christ’s, they follow only his teaching, and with him and in him want to belong to God, emulating his infinite perfection and his limitless love.” [17]
What are some present day examples of non-violent revolutions? Jesus tells us to “turn the other cheek”. The path of non-violence towards others was how Jesus showed His true power. The first apostles and martyrs of the Church took the same path, and it was because of their sacrifice in true charity that the Church grew. In recent history there has been other occasions where other people have taken a similar course to change the world. The biggest two were Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.
[1] Lev. 24:19-20
[2] Divine Intimacy, pg. 239
[3] Fernandez, In Conversation with God 3, 52.2
[4] cf. St. Gregory Nazianzen, Prayer, 17:9
[5] CCC 1827
[6] CCC 2303
[7] CCC 1825
[8] CCC 2844
[9] ibid.
[10] Divine Intimacy, pg. 239
[11] Footnotes NAB 5:43-48
[12] CCC 2828
[13] Ephesians 4:26-27
[14] CCC 2302
[15] J. Escriva, Friends of God, 9
[16] Fernandez, In Conversation with God 3, 52.1
[17] Divine Intimacy, pg. 239