(1 Sam 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 /Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13/ 1Cor 15: 45-49/ Gosp: Lk6: 27-38)
THEME: FORGIVENESS OUT OF LOVE
Dearly beloved, today is the 7th Sunday in ordinary time, we give thanks to the almighty God for seeing us through the past week and ushering us into a new week may his name be praised now and forever. Amen.
Beloved, in the first reading we read about David forgiving his greatest enemy out of love for him and God. David who served the first king of Israel, Saul had suddenly become an enemy to him all because of praises rained on David by women of Israel. David did no wrong to Saul nonetheless he is being pursued by 3000 men all because of hatred and jealousy. Saul saw David as a threat to the throne and wanted him dead. At night the Lord delivered Saul to David but he refused to kill him because David saw him as an anointed king. He had the golden opportunity to kill Saul but he didn’t all because of love.
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Like David, many of us priests and Christ faithful have gone through tough times because of hatred, jealousy, and sheer wickedness. We may have the opportunity to eliminate our enemies by just a thrust but like David, we need not harm God’s anointed. Judgment and vengeance are of the Lord.
In the gospel reading, the savior and the Lord of our lives calls on us to forgive our enemies and even pray for them. The question is how do I offer love to someone who intentionally has made up his or her mind to destroy me by the least chance he or she gets? How do I forgive a person who is not ready to accept his or her faults? Inasmuch as they are legitimate questions let us also learn from the one who has called us, by following his example. He forgave us of our since out of love and died for us (Jn3:16), in the prayer he taught us, we pray “and forgive us our trespasses we forgive those who trespass against us” We need to forgive them because the battle is of the Lord.
St. Paul says in Romans 12:17-21, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
St. Peter also has this to say “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. (1Pt 3:9-10)
Let us ask the Lord to give us a loving and forgiving heart so as to let go of the pains caused by the enemy. Amen.
