Homily: Saturday of the 1st Week of Lent - Love your enemies

Revenge upon ones enemies is a popular theme in literature and drama.  Think of Hamlet avenging the murder of his father by killing his uncle, or the Count of Monte Cristo enacting an intricate plot of deception and manipulation in order to exact HIS idea of justice upon those who ruined his life. 

Yet, as Christians we do not look to Hamlet or Edmond Dantes on how to treat our enemies.

Though it is almost a natural instinct to get back at those who hurt us or try to control us, Jesus teaches us by his word and example, “love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you.”

I think of Pope John Paul II visiting in prison the Turkish terrorist, Mehmet Ali Agca, the man who had seriously wounded him in an assassination attempt.  Instead of calling for his death, the holy Father wanted to personally tell Agca that he forgives him.

Jesus says, “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” he is calling us to perfect love.  This sounds impossible, but we need to trust that God will provide all we need in order to fulfill this command. 

Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are meant to make our hearts more like Christ’s.  If you can think of someone who you consider an enemy, to yourself, or to Christ, and you haven’t fasted a day in your life for them, have your really followed Jesus’ command here “to pray for those who persecute you”?  Fasting is not only changing our bodies but our hearts.

An important aspect of loving our enemies is also forgiveness.  Jesus teaches us that we are to forgive even while we’re in the process of being crucified.  Forgive immediately, forgive repeatedly.  If you can think of someone who you have a hard time forgiving, pray, “holy spirit give me the grace to forgive this person” and fast for that person.

It was Alexander Pope who said: “to err is human; to fogive is divine.”  St. Julian of Norwich said, “and in this mortal life mercy and forgiveness are the path which always leads to grace.”

Jesus prayed for his enemies and persecutors from the cross, and we are called to do the same: to love all, to pour out our lives for all, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.