Topic:
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
7C
SUNDAY HOMILY, LUKE 6:27-38 February 20, 2022
STORY
John killed his master in a fit of anger. Fearing
he would be put to death, he fled to a remote village accessible only by
walking on a dangerous narrow mountain path. To atone for his sin, he began to
cut a road through the mountain to end the isolation of the village.
In four years he finished half of his work. One day
a young man appeared and said he was the son of the man who had been murdered
and he wanted revenge. John was willing to die but pleaded with the young man
to have him finish the road first. The young man agreed. He was so impressed at
his enemy's determination that he volunteered to help.
Finally the road was finished and John said he was
ready to die. The youth could not bring himself to killing John. He said to
John that he had learned a lot from him and could not harm his teacher. He then
walked away. He had learned to love his enemy.
GOSPEL,
LUKE 6:27-38
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.
Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and to do good
to those who hate us. He has given us a good example of this as he on the cross
forgave those who put him there.
BE MERCIFUL JUST AS YOUR FATHER IS MERCIFUL.
Jesus teaches us to follow the example of our
heavenly Father who forgives us our sins and failings.
APPLICATION
TO LIFE
WHO ARE MY ENEMIES?
We must ask ourselves if we have any enemies. There
may be people whom we may not like or find it hard to get along with. This is
difficult to avoid. It may be our attitude towards others or the way we speak
or act towards them that is the cause of trouble. It is important to know this
to improve the way we act towards others.
BE MERCIFUL.
Here are several suggestions that may help us to be
merciful.
i) Pray for the person whom you find difficult to
be with.
ii) Ask for forgiveness if you have offended
someone.
iii) Try to help the person if possible.
iv) Change a bad habit that may be offensive to
others.
CONCLUSION
John killed a person and fled fearing he would be
put to death. To atone for his sin he helped a remote village. He was found by
the dead man's son who had come to take revenge. The son eventually forgave
John. Jesus teaches us to love our enemies.
He teaches us to be merciful as our heavenly Father
is merciful. We follow the example of our Father by praying for our enemy,
asking for forgiveness and helping the person if possible.
