Loving one’s enemies goes against the grain, so to speak. It is well-nigh unnatural and almost humanly impossible, especially for the Jews in Jesus’ time who lived under the oppressive domination of the Romans.

It persists to be very difficult even in our own situation and time, especially if the offender does not acknowledge his/her wrongdoing, or if the offender persists in his/her wrong course of action or evil ways.

In his “Sermon on the Plain,” Jesus exhorts his disciples and the crowd to respond to the offender and to the oppressor only in positive ways—to offer the other cheek, to walk the extra mile, and to give one’s cloak.

Beyond all these positive actions, forgiveness must reign in one’s heart. But we bestow forgiveness to the enemy not as an act of mercy and condescension on our part.

As forgiving persons, we do not style ourselves as big-hearted, magnanimous, or a great person.

Jesus is asking us to go one step higher in giving forgiveness by helping people uncover their self-worth usually encumbered by self-hatred. In forgiving our oppressors, we help them feel good about themselves and open to them the opportunity towards healing and transformation.

We make the decision to forgive because we have first experienced God’s forgiveness. Such decision is not borne out of our obligation to forgive but out of our love for the other person in the same manner that it was God who has first loved us and has forgiven us of our sins again and again.

Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one Body. And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!”

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?

Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.