‘Love Thine Enemy’

As I write, America continues to bomb Iran and Iran continues to bomb American assets and allies; Israelis and Palestinians continue as bitter enemies bent on destroying each other and I reflect, ruefully, that there is a tragic irony here: the protagonists in these conflicts subscribe to the three Abrahamic faiths all of whose sacred writings teach, express and urge a fundamental respect for all human life, even the enemy’s.

For example, the Israelis are Jews who read and venerate the words of the prophets of the Old Testament, including Ezechiel, who writes in today’s first reading:

You must not molest the stranger or oppress him, for you lived as strangers in the land of Egypt. You must not be harsh with the widow, or with the orphan; if you are harsh with them, they will surely cry out to me, and be sure I shall hear their cry; my anger will flare… If he cries to me, I will listen, for I am full of pity. 

Many Palestinians are Muslim who venerate the Q’uran where they will read:

“Serve God…and do good – to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer you meet…

They also venerate the Prophet Mohammed who has written in his prophetic writings, the hadith,: “

The least of a neighbour’s rights…is that if he asks him for a loan he should grant it to him. If he asks for help, he should help him. If he wants to borrow something from him, he should lend it to him. If he needs him to donate something to him, he should do so. If he invites him, he should accept his invitation. If he gets sick, he should go and visit him. If dies, he should attend his funeral procession. 

Many Palestinians are also Christian and America would pride itself on being a Christian nation, and our sacred scriptures carry a similar message from Jesus:

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you.

Not only is the life of others held sacred by all three faiths, but also their fundamental human rights to shelter, food, clothing, help in time of need, in sickness and in death. Orphans and widows are also particularly singled out for care and support in the name of God. That we see all these principles that guarantee and ground God’s will for all people consistently disregarded in present conflicts shows us how far we still are from honouring the claims of the Abrahamic faiths and building the Kingdom of God that we all pay lip service to.

In the Gospel today, Jesus, for the first time, some scholars believe, links love of God and love of neighbour as two sides of the same coin such that love of God cannot be claimed where love of neighbour is ignored. When asked, who is my neighbour, Jesus clearly identifies the enemy, the hated Samaritan, as one who is as entitled to our love and care as anyone, even our own family members. Whether the ‘Samaritan’ in these present conflicts is the Palestinian or the Israeli, the American or the Iranian, he is worthy of and entitled to the same love and respect, the same right to live in peace with his neighbours, the same right to cultivate his own crops, work for his living and support his family, provide food, clothing and shelter for their basic needs, educate his children and look to the state for support in his sickness and old age.  Until these principles are fully recognised, honoured and lived out by all who claim a faith in the one true God, his kingdom will never come and his will never be done on earth as it is in heaven.

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Today’s liturgical theme is simple– love. Jesus emphasises the greatest commandments of love of God and love of our neighbour. We pray together in the Collect for an increase in faith, hope, and charity, so that we may love what God has commanded. Love is a word we use freely these days – I love chocolate, I love that piece of music, I love that delicious Italian restaurant. But love is much richer than that. True love is a gift from God and directs us to cherish God for his own sake and to love our neighbour unconditionally. We live in a world that mistrusts people, where we tend to avoid outsiders. But as Christians, we are invited to infuse the world with love. The Eucharist, which we gather together to celebrate, is the sacrament of Charity. One of the fruits of our participation in the Eucharist is an increase in union and charity with God and with each other. It is a gift which Jesus Christ makes of himself, and this revealing to us God’s infinite love of each and every person. Since Christ died for us out his great love, we need to live out this love in all aspects of our life. The Eucharist is never between ‘me and Jesus’ but has a horizontal element of living love in our life. Do we live out the Mass and the Eucharist in our daily lives?  

Scripture Commentary

1^st Reading – God instructs the Israelites not to do wrong or oppress the vulnerable, for they are close to God, who hears their cries.

2^nd Reading – Paul exalts the Thessalonian Christians for receiving the word of God with joy and turning aside from things that lead them away. 

Gospel – Jesus is posed a simple question – which commandment is the greatest – loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and loving your neighbour as yourself?

Prayer of the Faithful 

For the Church – 

that the Church may take root in our community, so that the love of God and neighbour may be lived out. 

For governments throughout the world – 

that they may make humane provisions for refugees, especially those who are seeking refuge from poverty and repression. 

For our parish community – 

what we may receive the word with great joy and becomes an example to others through our love of God and love of neighbour.  

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These hymns have been chosen from the Laudate (L) and the Celebration Hymnal for Everyone (CFE) hymnbooks:

For the healing of all nations (CFE179, L886)

A new commandment (CFE4, L920)

Love is his word (CFE399, L803)

Make me a channel of your peace (CFE478, L898)