If You Love Those Who Love You, What Is Special About That?

"You have heard, that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy.  But this I tell you: love your enemies; and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your FATHER in Heaven.  For HE makes HIS sun rise on both the wicked and the good; and HE gives rain to both the just and the unjust.

If you love those who love you, what is special about that?  Do not even tax collectors do as much?  And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that?  Do not even the pagans do as much?  As for you, be perfect, as your heavenly FATHER is perfect." - Matthew 5:43-48 

(Here we come to the last of the opposites between the Old Law and the New.  The Old Testament spoke of loving a neighbor and this was a matter of solidarity among the members of the people of GOD.  With the Gospel the word "love" is not only given a wider dimension: it introduces us into a world totally different.  Solidarity within the group is supported by an instinct inscribed in nature.  This love however does not cross the frontiers that separate social groups: these only exist and find their identity in opposing others.)

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Love Of Enemies

"You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and do not do good to your enemy.  But this I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your FATHER in Heaven.  For HE makes HIS sun rise on both the wicked and the good, and HE gives rain to both the just and the unjust.

If you love those who love you, what is special about that?  Do not even tax collectors do as much?  And if you are friendly only to your friends, what is so exceptional about that?  Do not even the pagans do as much?  For your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way YOUR heavenly FATHER is righteous and perfect." - Matthew 5:43-48 

(Love your neighbor.  Here we come to the last of the opposites between the Old Law and the New.  The Old Testament spoke of loving a neighbor and this was a matter of solidarity among the members of the people of GOD.  With the Gospel the word "love" is not only given a wider dimension: it introduces us into a world totally different.  Solidarity within the group is supported by an instinct inscribed in nature.  This love however does not cross the frontiers that separate social groups: these only exist and find their identity in opposing others.

Do not do good to your enemy.  The text is not found in the Bible as it stands but its equivalent is in several places [Deuteronomy 7:2].  Referring to enemies of the nation rather than to personal enemies, we are asked to be wary of them, rather than share their errors.  If in many countries today it is understood that there is no frontier for love, it must be recognized that this ideal is a fruit of the Gospel: JESUS has enlightened our minds by asking us to model the love of our neighbor on the universal love of GOD the FATHER.  We have only to open a newspaper to see that this love of neighbor, whatever he be, and even if he comes from a social, national or religious group, in enmity with ours, remains incomprehensible to the majority, even in Christian countries.  When we realize that there is a place for everyone in the present world and that GOD directs everything for the benefit of all, we see things as GOD does and are perfect as the FATHER is perfect.

Love your enemies:  Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; Romans 12:20; Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; Romans 12:14; Ephesians 5:1.)

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"You Are Bought With A Great Price, Not With Gold Or Silver, But With The Precious Blood Of CHRIST."

 "All you lands, acclaim YAHWEH!

Serve YAHWEH with gladness; come before HIM with joyful songs.

Know that YAHWEH is GOD; HE created us, and we are HIS people, the sheep of HIS fold.

Enter HIS gates with thanksgiving, HIS courts with praise.  Give thanks to HIM and praise HIS name.

For YAHWEH is good; HIS love lasts forever; and HIS faithfulness, through all generations."

- Psalm 100:1-5

The Calvary

(The psalm bids us rejoice in GOD, because we are utterly HIS.  From the psalmist, the glad reflection provokes an outburst of gratitude.  From those who know the Cross it should bring about a cry of wonder that GOD should have brought, what was already HIS own--that we should belong to HIM doubly.  'You are bought with a great price,' writes St. Paul; 'not with gold or silver,' Peter says, 'but with the precious blood of CHRIST [1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18].  This psalm was born again on Calvary.  We must remember that as we sing it!)

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We Present Ourselves As Ambassadors In The Name Of CHRIST

"So we present ourselves as ambassadors, in the name of CHRIST, as if GOD, HIMSELF, makes an appeal to you, through us.  Let GOD reconcile you; this, we ask you, in the name of CHRIST.  HE had no sin, but GOD made HIM bear our sin, so, that, in HIM, we might share the holiness of GOD.

Being GOD's helpers, we  beg you: let it not be in vain, that you received this grace of GOD.  Scripture says: At the favorable time I listened to you, on the day of salvation I helped you.  This is the favorable time, this is the day of salvation." - 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 

(We present ourselves as ambassadors in the name of CHRIST.  This is not only true of the apostles and Paul.  It is also meant for us when we go to visit the sick or the needy; when, overcoming suspicion, we approach our brother or sister to create an atmosphere of confidence, so that, shortly, we may arrive at fraternal fellowship with others who have the same problems but who, in spite of that, often remain locked in their selfishness.

HE had no sin.  It is difficult to translate Paul's words: "HE made sin HIM who did not know sin," for obviously Paul here speaks according to Hebrew culture where the same word denotes both the sin and the victim who carries the sin.  Paul recalls the mystery of the cross: reconciliation is not achieved without voluntary victims who take on themselves the hatred and the sin of humankind.)

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GOD-Love Is The Source Of Love

"My dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from GOD.  Everyone who loves, is born of GOD and knows GOD.

How did the love of GOD appear among us?  GOD sent HIS only Son into this world, that we might have life, through HIM.

This is love: not that we loved GOD, but that, HE first loved us and sent HIS Son, as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." - 1 John 4:7-10 

(Here we have the beginning of the third part of the letter:  GOD-Love is the source of love and faith.

GOD is love.  The supreme revelation, characteristic of the Christian faith.  Other religions know of a GOD who is good and compassionate: no other religion has known that the dynamism of love moves the entire creation and that its source lies in GOD-Love. 

In this beautiful text John insists on the inseparability of love of GOD and love of our neighbor.  We all know this, but sometimes we might wonder why it is so.  John gives us the paramount reason; love comes from GOD.  If we can love GOD, it is because GOD loved us first; if we love each other it is because GOD's love extends among us.

John also links love of GOD and faith in GOD: a true Christian believer is somebody who begins by "believing in GOD's love, and that GOD is love.

HE first loved us: through HIS eternal predestination [Ephesians 1:4], the sending of HIS Son and through HIS sacrifice [Romans 5:8].  If we are authentically loving, we never feel superior nor that we have merits, as do those who boast of their good works.  We simply realize that the love of GOD works through us.

The lives of those who dedicate themselves lovingly to serving the abandoned, the sick, the elderly, and those no longer useful to society are justified and so are the lives of those who withdraw from ordinary life to dedicate themselves more totally to a more intimate love of GOD.)

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The Coming Age Of Peace And Justice

 "Would, that I hear GOD's proclamation,

that HE promise peace to HIS people,

HIS saints--lest they come back to their folly.

Yet, HIS salvation is near to those who fear HIM,

and HIS glory will dwell in our land.

Love and faithfulness have met;

righteousness and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness will reach up from the earth

while justice bends down from heaven.

YAHWEH will give what is good,

and our land will yield its fruit.

Justice will go before HIM,

and peace will follow along HIS path."

- Psalm 85:9. 10. 11-12. 13-14

(This psalm, written when the Israelites had returned from captivity in Babylon, adopts the most universal terms of the human vocabulary: liberty, life, joy, salvation, love, justice, peace, and happiness.  This return of the exiled Jews, however, was only one step toward authentic liberation.  Nothing is definitive and each phase in the realization of GOD's plan, leads us to another stage.  GOD's people are forever being called to go further ahead.  Even the actual reign of the risen CHRIST and the work of salvation accomplished by the Church, are only an image of the eternal kingdom.  GOD loves our earth.  When we feel troubled and discouraged by what is ugly around us, let us come back to the declaration of this psalm: YOU have favored YOUR land, O LORD; justice bends down from heaven; glory will dwell in our land.  Salvation comes from GOD, but is brought by a man, CHRIST, freely welcomed by a woman in the name of humanity.  With the Incarnation, it is not possible to believe in GOD, without believing in humankind.)

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More Perfect Law

"Do not think that I have come to annul the law and the prophets.  I have not come to annul them, but to fulfill them.  I tell you this: as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest letter or dot in the law will change, until all is fulfilled.

So then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be the least in the kingdom of heaven.  On the other hand, whoever obeys them, and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:17-19 

(Here begins the presentation of the new Law.  It is far from what is often sought in a religion: practices to observe, fasts, prayers, good works with which one wins salvation.  JESUS says little about this because Scripture has dealt at length with this subject, and the study of Scripture itself shows that these laws and practices are always linked to a certain culture, and have to be adapted to the times.

Law: At times this word indicates the whole religion of Israel.  The law and the prophets: was a way of indicating the whole Scriptures.

Not the smallest letter or dot in the law will change until all is fulfilled.  JESUS does not refer to the commandments.  Rather HE affirms that the religion founded on the Old Testament's Scripture was a temporary, yet necessary step in the history of salvation.  The prophecies had to be fulfilled; the rites and sacrifices of that religion expressed in a veiled manner the mystery of sin and mercy that would be fulfilled in the person and the work of JESUS.  With HIM comes the perfect and definitive fellowship of GOD with humankind.

For us as well, observing the laws of the Scriptures is not an end in itself.  They are an expression of real love and are its guidelines.  In obeying them we become receptive to the Spirit who will lead us.  In this way we discover a "righteousness" or perfection far superior to the canonists of the time: the Lawyers and the Pharisees.

In verse 19, JESUS is referring to the commandments.)

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Salt And Light

"You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt has lost its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It has become useless.  It can only be thrown away and people will trample on it.

You are the light of the world.  A city built on a mountain cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and covers it; instead, it is put on a lamp stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, your light must shine before others, so that they may see the good you do, and praise your FATHER in heaven." - Matthew 5:13-16 

(JESUS has just designated those who are called to the kingdom.  First of all HE will clarify their mission: to be the light of the world and not merely a light in the world.  This does not mean that all people are to enter the Church, but that the Church has to be salt and light to the world.  Scripture mentions salt as the element that preserves food.  The covenant of salt was the Covenant of GOD with those who were to serve HIM forever [Numbers 18:19].  So the disciples of JESUS are called salt of the earth because through them the world benefits from the lasting Covenant with GOD.  They must continually enkindle in the world the desire and struggle for true justice and perfection, and not allow human societies to become satisfied with mediocrity.

You are the light: JESUS does not mean "You are the best in the world," but "GOD has chosen you to be a minority and through you HE will make HIMSELF known."  You will experience [both you and the Church] much that you would perhaps prefer to avoid, but which will be for the world, a sign from GOD.)

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The Beatitudes

"Coming down the hill with them, JESUS stood in an open plain.  Many of HIS disciples were there and a large crowd of people who had come from all parts of Judea and Jerusalem, and from the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon.

Then, looking at HIS disciples, JESUS said,

'Fortunate are you who are poor, for the kingdom of GOD is yours.

Fortunate are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.

Fortunate are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Fortunate are you when people hate you, when they reject you and insult you and number you among criminals, because of the Son of Man.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven.  Remember, that is how the ancestors of the people treated the prophets.

But alas for you who have wealth, for you have been comforted now.

Alas for you who are full, for you will go hungry.

Alas for you, who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Alas for you when people speak well of you, for that is how the ancestors of the people treated the false prophets.'" - Luke 6:17. 20-26 

(Matthew adapts them for the members of the church of his time.  Luke, on the other hand, puts the beatitudes here just as JESUS proclaimed them to the people of Galilee.  In the words of JESUS, the beatitudes were a call and a hope addressed to the forgotten of the world, beginning with the poor among HIS people, heirs of GOD's promise to the prophets.

In contrast with these beatitudes, Luke presents lamentations recalling those of Isaiah [65:13-14].  They are lamentations as used for the dead, not maledictions.  For the rich forget GOD and become impermeable to grace.  These lamentations are a sign of the love of GOD for the rich, as are the beatitudes for the poor, for HE loves them all, but in a different way.  To the first HE affirms that HE will destroy the structures of injustice, and to the others HE gives a warning: richness brings death.)

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We Form One Body

"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion with the blood of CHRIST?  And the bread that we break, is it not a communion with the body of CHRIST?  The bread is one, and so we, though many, form one body, sharing the one bread." - 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 

(And the bread that we break, is it not a communion with the body of CHRIST?  Paul will return to speak of the Eucharist in 11:18.  This communion through the body and blood of the Risen CHRIST, besides being a personal encounter with CHRIST, makes of all of us one body.  We form one body.  This does not only mean that we feel united, but that the Risen CHRIST unites us to HIMSELF and, so doing, gives the community new strength.)

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