Love thy Enemy!

With Divine Mercy Sunday this weekend, I want to republish this reflection I wrote before Ash Wednesday. I edited it slightly for timeliness…

I have been reflecting lately on how we react to different people in our lives. Jesus warns us that it is very easy to love people who love us. But what about those people in our lives whom we have encountered that don’t seem to like us at all. They could be extended family members, acquaintances, some may even call themselves our friends, members of an organization we are in, maybe even fellow parishioners, coworkers, bosses, employees et al. We have all experienced those who never have a nice word to say about us, maybe even to us. Everything we do seems to be wrong in their eyes and often it appears as if they are looking for a “gotcha” moment. They may believe lies about us and, in some terrible cases, spread lies about us. Often they justify their attitude and actions with some type of noble, just cause. These people try to get under our skin and very often we allow them. I am sure that all of us could come up with other examples and I am sure we have all experienced this type of behavior and people.

Well, here is my reflection…we are called to love these people even more because it is harder to love them. We need to make a greater effort to love these souls. Let’s look at Jesus with the pharisees and other leaders of the Jews. They actually followed Jesus around and went to where Jesus was, not because they were drawn to Him, but because they were looking to get something on Him. They were looking for a “gotcha” moment. They never had anything good to say about Jesus. They were plotting to kill Him and they finally succeeded. They spread lies and rumors about Him and they were always testing Him and trying to trick Him. Yet, Jesus loved them. He forgave them. “Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do.” Jesus worked harder on bringing about the conversion of those who hated Him more than repentant or other sinners. He cried over them, He chastised them, got angry at them, performed miracles for them (raising of Lazarus), and then He died for them…because He loved them and desired their salvation. And so must we desire everyone’s salvation regardless of how they treat us. With the Christian celebration of  Divine Mercy this weekend, let us pray for a desire to forgive others quickly and completely and also let us reflect on how we may have hurt others in our lives. Let us reflect on our own lack of charity. Have we ever been vindictive? Taken joy in others suffering? Wished others bad? Divine Mercy Sunday is a time to reflect on the need in our lives to forgive quickly and for the strength to be quick to ask for forgiveness.

“Lord, may I offer my prayers today for all whom I have hurt in my life and for all who have hurt me.”