There could not be a more perfect gospel passage for this day of national remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001. It just happens to come in the cycle of readings but it could very well have been hand selected.
LOVE YOU ENEMIES, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU, PRAY FOR THOSE WHO MISTREAT YOU! This is the continuation of St. Luke's version of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. In fact it is called the "Sermon on the Plain" – which again is more than coincidental on this historic day.
Jesus absolutely knew what he was saying when he said these things. He knew of the enemies that he had, the enemies that hated him, who were already in part cursing him, and who would one day mistreat him and persecute him and put him to a shameful death by crucifixion: the worst form of capital punishment known to mankind at the time! Yet he taught and preached tolerance, and non-judgment and love even for the likes of these enemies!
By doing so – by loving – by going through with his death on behalf of those who were his enemies and those of his Father – he reversed the cycle of death, darkness and hatred for those who want to participate in it! There is now a choice!
It would seem that if we do participate in this "supernatural" form of dealing with those who cause terror and bloodshed throughout the world – if our best offense is forgiveness, and understanding and LOVE – then maybe the seeming endless cycle of violence among people on this earth could be broken – and a true brotherhood could emerge.
Jesus demonstrated that the best offense and the best way to react to violence is LOVE – let's try it! – both individually and as members of families, society, country and world! We have tried it so many other ways – maybe Jesus really had something here!
In the first reading we are reminded that those who do sin against any of the brothers of Christ – who are everyone we see – sin against him! This applies to those who do violence, but it also applies to those who do violence back to them! Even when our brother wrongs us, let us see the Christ in him – and respond to that image and reality, difficult as it might be to see!
If we love one another,
God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us!
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