Love Your Enemies
beyond the lex talionis
Dear Friends,
The law of retaliation (lex talionis), an eye for an eye, aims to limit the severity of an offender's punishment to what he has inflicted on his victim. This demands great restraint on the part of the abused, but for a Jesus follower it doesn't go far enough!
This weekend's Gospel account recounts the conclusion of Jesus' above-the-Law teaching (see last week's email). The climax comes at the end:
You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...
Call it a gut punch or a haymaker: this is a big challenge, and it hits us where it hurts.
When we started reading the Sermon on the Mount a few weeks ago, we heard Jesus call his followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We might not have known where that would lead us, but today we can be sure of where he was headed: a totally renewed humanity.
Let me offer, my dear friends, that this is the true mark of the Christian: he loves his enemies.
Do you?
Of course, we can't do it of our own strength alone. But the Spirit of the one who - out of love! - was unjustly accused, was spat upon and scourged, was crowned with thorns and made to carry his cross, and was crucified as a common criminal lives in us.
He did it to turn the world upside-down, and that's what we do when we bring his love to life in the world. The very best way to put the world to rights, the very best way to be salt and light, is to love your enemies.
By trusting and following Jesus, we can do it!
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
PS Lent begins this week! Ash Wednesday Masses are at 6:00am, 8:00am (with the school children), 12:00noon, and 7:30pm.
PPS Our campaign to improve the church's audio system will continue through Lent. Click here to go beyond the tithe and lend your support.
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
