Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5:44

Jesus insisted that He came, not to destroy the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. In today’s scripture, He extends the commandment of love beyond the confines of one’s family, church or community, to include everyone, even our enemies. This was a bitter pill to swallow for Jesus’ listeners. And, Jesus knew it. After all, the Old Testament offered a restricted view of love: “love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” In telling His listeners to “love your enemy,” Jesus went beyond the accepted boundaries of the law wherein love of neighbor excluded one’s enemies.

A Pharisee and teacher of the law confronted Jesus about His message of love, and asked Him pointedly: “who is my neighbor?” Jesus told him a story about a man who was robbed on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho, and left for dead. Two people passed him by without helping him. One was a Pharisee; the other was a Levite; and both of them were upstanding members of the Jewish community. A third passerby was a Samaritan, an enemy of the Jews. The Samaritan helped the injured man, and brought him to an inn where he could be cared for. “Which of these three,” Jesus asked the Pharisee, “was neighbor to the man attacked by the robbers?” (Luke 10:36) Even the Pharisee had to admit that it was the Samaritan, the enemy of the Jews, who was neighbor to the man in need.

By practical examples such as this story, Jesus opened the minds and hearts of His listeners to an understanding of God’s love which discriminates against no one. He asks us also to set as our model, our heavenly Father who “makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and unjust.” (Matthew 5:45) He tells us that there is no recompense in loving “those who love you” or in greeting “your brothers only.” Love rises above prejudices; it is not to be held bondage by our likes or dislikes. Love must be perfected, just as our “heavenly Father is perfect “ (Matthew 5:48). This is why Jesus says:
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your heavenly Father.”

Fr. Hugh Duffy

* * * Do not miss tomorrow’s blog on Love * * *