AN INCLUSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE LOVE
Jesus is at it again with His new standards of the law, particularly regarding the love of enemies.
In a sense, the old Jewish law probably had a point. For how does one
really come to love his or her enemy? Even just the joining of the two
words sounds absurd: “love of enemies.” One’s love will naturally and
exclusively gravitate only to his or her “neighbors” or friends. Anyone
outside one’s circle of friends, acquaintances, relatives and neighbors
might as well be treated an “enemy” — simply understood in the Jewish
mind as an outsider or a stranger, with no rights to one’s love and
affection.
But there lies the problem. If one merely follows his or her natural
propensities or tendencies, then it’s probably OK. But we must keep in
mind that we have a higher possibility available, thanks to God’s
bountiful graces and blessings. Thanks to such grace, we can go yonder —
to a higher level of love. This higher love is more encompassing (not
selective), more inclusive (not for just a fortunate few selected ones),
and without conditions (not for those who have special privileges and
entitlements to wield).
And that last point is the context of that often misunderstood last
verse. It is not so much perfection that is being demanded of us, for
only God is perfect, and we may not even approximate such an exclusive
attribute of God. In the context of inclusive and comprehensive love,
the challenge that Jesus poses to us is to imitate God in that kind of
love.
Let us not be content with a minimal type of love which barely measures
up to the possibilities that God is opening to us. Let that love of His
be ours as well. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
REFLECTION
QUESTION: Who do you find most difficult to love? Today, pray for that
person and ask God for the grace to love him or her.
Enlarge my heart, O Lord, that I may be able to love like You do. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment