“Love Your Enemies”: The Empowering Freedom of Forgiveness

David gives us today a great example of merciful love.

King Saul had seen the proverbial “writing on the wall” (see I Sam. 18:5–9; Dan. 5:5–9, 24–28). So even though David would become the king’s son-in-law, marrying his daughter Michal, “Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that all Israel loved him.” Thus, “Saul was still more afraid of David. So, Saul was David’s enemy continually” (1 Sam. 18:29–30).

An Attempt

Saul attempted what many rulers do when they see a real or perceived threat to their reign: he sought to eliminate it. The king tried to kill David, but he was foiled in his nefarious plans by both Michal and his son Jonathan, who aided David in evading Saul’s evil designs (see generally 1 Sam. 19—20). In fact, Saul had already attempted to kill David twice but failed (1 Sam. 18:10–12).

Forgiveness and Mercy

How did David respond when he had an opportunity to exact revenge? Today’s First Reading tells us. David had forgiven and shown mercy in sparing the king’s life once before (see 1 Sam. 24), and today he again exercises mercy, temporarily taking Saul’s spear instead of impaling him with it (1 Sam. 26:12–13, 22–23).

David knew that he would have to answer for the unjust killing of King Saul (1 Sam. 26:9). He knew that God would “forgive us trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,” as the Lord’s Prayer proclaims.

In addition, David knew that Saul was not his true enemy, but a brother to be won over. The devil and his minions are our true enemies (Eph. 6:12). David knew that to seek Saul’s life was to become like him, to let hatred harden his heart instead of allowing love to liberate himself, Saul, and others (see John 8:31–32; 10:10). Indeed, David realized that hatred is also self-destructive, that harboring resentment is liking drinking poison while hoping the object of our ire dies.

Love and Life

So, David chooses love and life, mercifully seeking Saul’s redemption instead of his execution. David was a flawed individual, as various events in his life after becoming king illustrate (see generally 2 Samuel). But he shows us the true path of righteousness in today’s reading.

In the Gospel, Jesus affirms,

To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. . .. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27–28, 36)

Jesus isn’t saying that wrongdoing shouldn’t be punished, or that we should allow ourselves to become doormats or worse. Rather, he exhorts us to see the bigger picture, that any justice be merciful justice, so that we might ultimately win our human enemies over in living love, as Jesus exemplified par excellence in mercifully atoning for mankind’s sins on the Cross, even as his enemies sought—and thought they had accomplished—his elimination.

Love Your Enemies

Truly loving our enemies, especially in a sustained, self-transformative way which powerfully witnesses to our enemies and others observing, can only be accomplished in Jesus Christ, especially through encountering our Lord regularly in the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. So, as St. Paul exhorts, let us “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Rom. 13:14).

Timeless counsel from David, Jesus, and Paul, and good wisdom to begin cultivating in anticipation of Lent.

[Readings: 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; 1 Cor 15:45-49; Lk 6:27-38]