In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus gives us one of the most challenging life lessons:
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.
So, realistically speaking, what is my responsibility to my enemies? Well, according to Jesus, we have to love them and act generously toward them. Why? Because Jesus said so and He has the best plan for a full and holy life. But how do we actually make that happen? Let me propose a plan for this kind of difficult love:
Desire the gift of Heaven for yourself and your dear ones.
Understand who your enemies are and why you call them “enemies.” (Has any forgiveness happened? Could it happen now? Can I take someone “off the list”?)
Pray – by name – for those who have cursed, mistreated, or hurt you. (When we ask God to help the ones we name, we are reminded that God has called us each by name to something wonderful.)
Imagine that because of your prayers and your love, you and your enemies will meet one day in Heaven!
May your enemies be few, and may your love for them be strengthened by Christ’s love for all.
Welcome to the Saint Aloysius! Our parish was founded in 1896 to serve the Catholic families that were settling in the greater New Canaan area.