Saint Rita Catholic Church and School in Webster, NY - An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings

“Love Your Enemies, Do Good To Those Who Hate You”

Our readings this Sunday ask us to do the unthinkable - to "do good to those who hate you." It is an act only God is capable of (or those acting in the image of God). This is what David did in our first reading and what Jesus invites us to do in today's Gospel.

In our first reading (1 Samuel 26:2,7-9, 12-13, 22-23), we hear excerpts from the fascinating story of young David, who was being pursued by his former patron, King Saul. Saul and his army were trying to kill David. David stumbled on the opportunity to slay his would-be killer in the night but he chose not to. He refused to take vengeance on King Saul, whom he called "the Lord's anointed." In short, he did good to those who hated him, blessed those who persecuted him.

In our Epistle reading (1 Corinthians 15:45-49) St. Paul contrasts (the first) Adam with the last (or second) Adam (Jesus). The first Adam is from the earth, the natural world and the second Adam, Jesus, is from the spiritual world - the image of the heavenly one. It is this image that Jesus calls us to be in today's Gospel. Paul writes, “As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly, and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.”

In our Gospel reading (Luke 6:27-38), we hear a continuation of Jesus' Sermon on the Plain that began in last Sunday's Gospel reading. Here, Jesus laid out what it is to be a follower of Christ, in the image of God. This is an image of meekness and humility. It is a call to love our enemies with an “Agape” love, like the love between God and mankind. Imagine how counter-cultural Jesus’ words were to those who heard Him; how counter-cultural they are even today.

Have you ever given a gift to someone and not received a thank-you? Were you offended? If the gift was truly given in the spirit of today's Gospel, with no expectation of return, there would not be offense, only love. The gifts given to us by God are not only with no expectation of return, it would be impossible for us to reciprocate with God. God gives purely because He loves us, over and over again. We are called to live in His image.