Reading
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Comment
The first part of the commandment cited by Jesus, love of neighbor, is contained in the Mosaic law (Lv 19:18). Although hatred of the wicked in the Old Testament is considered right (Ps 139:19-22), there is not really a commandment that prescribes to hate one's enemies. Furthermore, it should be noted that the word "to hate" in the Semitic context does not have the extremely negative connotation acquired in our language.
Jesus extends the commandment of love to his enemies and invites his disciples to imitate the example of the Father, who grants his gifts to both the good and the bad. A hint of love for enemies is contained in the Old Testament, in the book of Proverbs (Prov 25:21).
Tax collectors were the symbol par excellence of Israel's "enemy". They were in fact the collectors in the service of the Romans and therefore particularly hated. Matthew had been one of them before he became a disciple of Jesus.
Jesus' exhortation not to limit oneself to loving one's brothers (v. 47) warns against any sectarianism, which was typical of the various Jewish currents and risks being replicated in the Church. An attitude stigmatized also by Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians: "What I mean is this: One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ'"(1 Cor 1:12). Christians should therefore avoid denominational differences becoming a source of division in the Church.
A supplement of love is required of the disciples of Jesus, which makes them capable of giving to all more than others; this is the hallmark of their being Christians.
Jesus teaches us that the practice of the gospel is more than just humanism. The effort that he requires to overcome the retributive tendency of our nature and to imitate the Father in his benevolence can be accomplished only with the assistance of sanctifying grace, poured out by the Spirit.
Prayer
Make us capable, o Lord, of unconditional love; as you first loved us, giving us all of yourself in the work of redemption. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
