This is perhaps the hardest of all of Jesus’ commandments: “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (v 44). How can one who is hurt or injured, insulted or harmed, be expected to love the one who inflicted those injuries? What is it to love one’s enemies? The only way to understand and heed the call is to look at how Jesus treated his enemies. How did he respond to those who hated and opposed him? One thing is how he still tries to explain to them God’s message, even if they are not willing to listen. He also rebukes them and warns them for their evil deeds, pointing to them the consequences of their actions. He tries to explain to them how evil deeds can only lead to ruin and how loving actions lead to peace and harmony and fruitful life. But at times, Jesus would simply slip away and withdraw from the confrontation, not out of cowardice, but perhaps in order to prevent further hatred or perceiving that it is impossible to deliver his message across to stubborn hearts. But he never repaid evil for evil; he never took revenge; he never fought back with arms and power. He was willing to suffer harm, and even forgave them. We may not agree with the Lord’s way of dealing with his enemies. But we see that his love toward them and his dying for them proved victorious. It is hard to love one’s enemies, but we can try to imitate Jesus’ way.

“Praise the Lord, my soul!” or “Alleluia.”

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”