But why should we be called to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, pray for those who mistreat us, offer the other cheek and give your different cloak, lend money, and expect nothing back, do not judge, be compassionate and forgive?
This is too much! This is unfair! This is injustice! Is justice giving what is due to them? For example, if you are slapped on the right cheek, allow being hit on the other cheek. But frankly, reflecting, this is not giving what is due to them but showing what is expected of us because this is already revenge. The justice of God is that violence will be answered by peace, hatred should be defeated by love, that injury should be healed by forgiveness, and evil should be controlled by goodness.
Forgiveness in the gospel always implies reconciliation; it involves bringing people together again and healing wounds but not the destruction of the wrongdoer. That is something very different. It can take time, effort and genuine concern for people. Loving one’s enemies is not being soft about them. Nor is it about peace at any price, not a question of projecting a gentle, loving image but a passion for restoring justice, dignity and the right relationships between people. How many wars and millions of deaths could have been avoided if we had followed this path? Like Jesus, Gandhi, or Martin Luther King Jr, there must be a readiness to suffer and perhaps to lose much materially and socially. Active non-violence involves campaigning, sticking one’s neck out, and speaking out against injustice.
As we reflect on the word of God, we are reminded of the beautiful Prayer of Generosity by St Ignatius of Loyola: “Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve You as I should, to give and not count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek the rest, to labour and not to ask to reward, save that of knowing that I do your Most holy will. Amen.”
Father Novelito Lim
Parish Priest
St Mary’s Parish, Echuca
