Radical Love

 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

20 February 2022

 

First Reading: 1 SM 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23

Responsorial Psalm: PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13

Second Reading: 1 COR 15:45-49

Gospel: LK 6:27-38

 

Reflection

By: Sem. Carlo Alexis R. Malaluan

 

One campaign slogan commonly seen in the present Philippine political climate speaks of a radical love. Love comes from different forms. Love allows us to enter into a deep relationship and communion with others. When Jesus speaks of a radical love, what does he mean?

In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us to love like how God loves. Years ago, I came across the real meaning of the word "Compassion". Compassion derives from the two Latin word, cum meaning "with" and passio which means "suffer". Therefore, in a literal sense, real compassion is to be with the suffering - to suffer with others. It is the ultimate expression of love. Of course, it is easy to suffer with someone dear to us. It is easy to empathize with our friends and loved ones. But Christ asks for more. Christ asks us to love our enemies, those who have wronged us and to those who have bitterly caused us pain and hurt.

What a demand from Jesus! It seems to be an impossible task to do. Jesus wants a change of heart. This is hard because this is not our way. Our natural tendency is to get even or just discipline our enemies as best as we can. It utterly reverses our human understanding about enemies and forgiveness. It tells us the way God goes about things, holding nothing against us despite all our failings. This is how Jesus lived. His attitude of heart was blessed by His Father and brought Him into eternal life. In the Gospel of Saint Luke, Jesus uses extreme language to highlight the importance of our relationships to one another. We are to deal with others - even to those unlovable, mindful of how we ourselves have received the good gift of forgiveness from God. This reminds us of the words in the prayer Christ Himself taught us, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

The love Jesus speaks of is not just emotion: it is a commitment of the will. It is extravagant and limitless, and it includes us all, good and bad alike. This is the true love that frees up the world's gridlock of hatred, judgment, blame, recrimination and violence. It is an active loving based on going the extra mile. "The measure of love is to love without measure" as Saint Francis de Sales would say.

Prayer

Lord, loving our enemies is contrary to our human nature. But now You are asking us to love them. We always fail You. Lord, change our heart and transform it to become like Your merciful heart especially during sacramental celebrations. Allow us to spend time pondering how You have been merciful to us even when we are sinful and ungrateful. In this way, we learn the way of the Gospel. This we ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.