Reflection for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time – February 23, 2025

Theme: Love Your Enemies

Readings
1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13
1 Cor 15:45-49
Lk 6:27-38

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the transformative power of love, particularly the love of one’s enemies, which is central to both the First Reading and the Gospel. The theme challenges us to move beyond our natural inclinations for justice, revenge, and self-preservation, and instead, to embrace a love that is selfless, unconditional, and truly divine.

In the First Reading from 1 Samuel, we witness an extraordinary example of forgiveness. David, despite being pursued and wronged by King Saul, chooses not to harm him when presented with the opportunity. David’s restraint is not out of weakness, but from a deep respect for God’s anointed. His actions remind us that love for our enemies is not only an act of kindness but a matter of honoring God’s will and the dignity of every person. David’s refusal to harm Saul demonstrates that forgiveness is often a conscious decision to trust in God’s justice, even when we have the power to act otherwise.

In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus calls His followers to love their enemies in a way that goes far beyond conventional human love. He instructs His disciples to do good to those who hate them, bless those who curse them, and pray for those who mistreat them. This is radical love—love that asks for no reward and expects nothing in return. Jesus challenges us to go beyond reciprocal kindness, showing us that anyone can love those who love them. True Christian love is generous and merciful, reaching out to even the most difficult and undeserving.

Jesus’ words echo God’s own mercy, urging us to reflect His generosity in our own lives. “Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.” Just as God shows mercy to us, we are called to extend that same mercy to others, particularly those who may have wronged or hurt us. Forgiveness, as Jesus teaches, is not about excusing the wrong but about choosing to let go of resentment and anger, offering instead a chance for reconciliation and peace. By doing so, we embody the grace and mercy of God in the world.

The Second Reading from 1 Corinthians further enriches this theme, reminding us of the transformation that awaits us in Christ. St. Paul tells us that we will bear the image of the “man of heaven” — Jesus. As we grow in faith and love, we become more like Christ, whose life was a model of mercy and forgiveness. Just as we carry the image of the earthly man, Adam, so too will we reflect the image of the heavenly man, Christ, as we live out His teachings of unconditional love.

The readings together highlight an essential truth: if we truly believe that we are destined to sit together in the house of our Father, how can we continue to harbor hatred or resentment against our fellow brothers and sisters? If we are all heirs of the same divine love, how can we allow the divisions of this world to keep us from sharing that love with others, especially those who challenge us the most?

Reflection:
This Sunday calls us to a radical and transformative way of living—the kind of love that goes beyond what is easy or natural. Loving our enemies doesn’t mean we ignore the harm that has been done to us, but it does mean choosing a different response. It means offering the mercy and grace that we ourselves have received from God. In our relationships, in our communities, and even in our struggles with those who hurt us, we are invited to love with the love of Christ—unconditionally, selflessly, and without expectation of reward.

As we journey through this week, let us reflect on how we can embody this radical love. Are there people in our lives whom we are called to forgive or extend mercy to? How can we be more merciful, as our Father is merciful? Let us open our hearts to the grace that can only come from loving like Christ and trusting in His power to transform even the most difficult relationships into opportunities for healing and reconciliation.