“Allowing the Crucified Lord to be our model, our inspiration and our strength in our desire to live the ‘Gospel of the Tough!’”

(Based on Col 3:12-17 and Lk 6:27-38 – Thursday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

There is a joke among listeners of Gospel sermons and talks:

There are two categories of the Gospel message:
(a) The “Gospel of the Easy” – Gospel passages which are uncomplicated to comprehend and unproblematic to carry out.

(b) The “Gospel of the Tough” – Gospel passages which are very difficult to understand, highly demanding in practicing and too taxing to be even considered realistic and feasible!

The Gospel Reading of the Day would undoubtedly fall in the second category: A Gospel of the Tough!

And this Gospel of the Tough, has probably one of the most toughest sentence of the Gospels enshrined in it: “Love your enemies…” (Lk 6:27)

Many of us may feel that this statement is just way too ideal to be feasible and doable.

But well…
… Facts remain facts… we like it or not… we accept it or not!

And this fact that Jesus really meant to “Love your enemies…” is proved by what follows after this statement:

He gives some explanations for the same: (Lk 6:27-28)

Do good to those who hate you.
Bless those who curse you.
Pray for those who abuse you.

He gives some practical tips for the same: (Lk 6: 29-30)

If someone hits you, turn the other cheek.
If someone takes your shirt, give your jacket too.
If someone asks you, give him something.
If someone steals your money, do not demand it back.

This is followed by the splendid Golden Rule: Do to others what you want others to do to you! (Lk 6:31)

Indeed, the teaching to “Love your enemies” is a reality and a fact and is a call to which we are invited to give heed.

That leads to a very practical question: Who are my enemies?

In general, an enemy is anyone who feels hatred toward, intends injury to, or opposes the interests of another.

The moment we hear the word “enemy”, our minds usually transports to some famous “enemies” of the world like some notorious terrorists or some dictators or rulers or gangs etc…

But the Lord is very particular in pointing out who are these “enemies”.

Jesus doesn’t restrict “enemies” to people who are against the state or the nation, but he specially means our personal enemies.

Who are these our personal enemies?

One clue we get from the words of Jesus, in Mt 10:36, “A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household”.

Oops! That’s pretty close, right?

Those in our homes…
… those in our close circles
… whom we meet everyday

People whom we meet regularly and whom we come in contact often are the ones whom most likely we can hurt or who hurt us….
and over time, they may become our personal enemies

So, well… it’s time to identify a few enemies – a few personal enemies…

Do I own a grudge against the members of my family – spouses, parents, children?
Do I possess hatred against the members of my community – superiors, companions, juniors, mates?
Do I kindle anger against my extended family members – siblings, in-laws, relatives?
Do I harbour ill-feelings against those with whom I work – bosses, colleagues, junior workers?
Do I maintain bad thoughts against the members of my church – priests, sisters, persons entrusted with in-charges, various association members etc?
Do I keep resentment against some other known people in life – friends, acquaintances, neighbours?
Do I entertain bitterness against many strangers – storekeepers, some people whom we come across often when we travel in the bus/metro/auto/train etc?

We have to admit…
The ones who are close to us and who are more familiar are the ones who are hurt or who abuse us
… and they turn out to be our “personal enemies!”
(Though often we don’t like to put them in the ‘category of enemies!’)

Yet, the statement of the Lord remains firm as a rock – “Love your enemies…”

So how do we love our “enemies?”

Here are some practical tips and suggestions (of course, depends also on the ‘level of our enemity!’):

Greeting them: Wishing them constantly at least ensures we do not avoid them or dodge away from them.

Spread goodness: Respond to constant avoidance, with positive strokes of good deeds. Make the first move to heal.

Avoid evil-talk: Stop any bad utterances and expressions to flow from the mouth. Every time we talk: either life comes or death. The tongue has power! Allow it to forgive and bring forth life.

Thank God for them: God seeks the good of ALL persons…including the one who is not liked by us. Offer the person to this goodness and benevolence of God and be grateful

Pray for them: We may become helpless in our situation. But through prayer, God has the great ability to gift pardon and mercy. An honest heart will surely allow God’s love to flow through the relationship.

Ask God to Bless them: It’s hard to accept, but the enemy can be a gift from God. Like Joseph who said, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Gen 50:20), the enemies become an cause for us to be humble, to keep us on our knees, to reveal our weakness & to expose our total need for God!

Pray for the grace of forgiveness: Forgetting the hurt is never easy; but with God’s Grace, we can begin the journey of forgiveness. Forgiveness is not a feeling – it’s a decision, and Grace makes that decision possible. When we forgive, we free not only the other person, but also our own heart. The Cross teaches us: forgiveness is costly, but it is never impossible.

The teaching to – “Love your enemies…” is unmistakably the “Gospel of the Tough!”

Let the Crucified Lord be our model, our inspiration and our strength…
… in our desire to live this “Gospel of the Tough!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fifth Commandment – Respect for human life

The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine.

Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others’ safety on the road, at sea, or in the air. (CCC # 2289)