Dear brothers and sisters, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
An obedient child is one who does his or her parents’ will and respects and honors them. He or she is always of good behavior and follows instructions as given by his or her parents. He or she is the beloved of the parents and always finds favor with them. It pays to be an obedient child because he or she is the delight of his or her parents.
In the first reading, Moses enjoined the people to be obedient children of their Father. He challenged them to observe the statutes, decrees, and commandments God their Father gave them with all their heart and soul. By being obedient, the people would find delight and favor with God, who had chosen them as people peculiar to Him and as the apple of His eye (Deut. 32:10). Also, by keeping God’s commandments, God would raise them high in praise, renown, and glory, above all other nations and make them sacred people of the Lord.
As the people of Israel of old were enjoined to be obedient children of God, so also are we. We have to follow the precepts of God, do His will, obey His commandments, love Him, honor Him, worship Him, and remain faithful children, and we will find favor and delight with God, our Father.
Jesus’ Way: The New Dispensation
Writing to the Church at Philippi, St. Paul talked of Jesus Christ as being obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:8). Jesus Himself said that His food is to do the will of His Father (God), who sent Him and to finish His work (Jn. 4:34). During the agony in the garden, Jesus prayed that the Father take away the cup from Him. Nevertheless, He said, “Let Your will be done, not Mine” (Lk. 22:42; Matt. 26:39). Jesus Christ is the perfect example of an obedient Child (son) who, irrespective of the situation and condition, is willing to obey His Father.
In the preceding verses of today’s Gospel reading, Jesus stated that He did not come to abolish the Law and Prophets but to fulfill them (Matt. 5:17). He ushered in a new dispensation and brought new interpretation and understanding of the laws, commandments, and precepts of the Lord. Furthermore, He summarized the whole law and prophets as hinging or depending on the love of God and the love of neighbor (Matt. 22:36-40).
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus obliges us not just to show our love to our neighbors but also to extend our love to our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, too. This is indeed a difficult obligation because it goes against our natural way of action, reasoning, and living our daily lives.
The Difficult Obligation
“I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father.” There is no doubt that Jesus Christ’s teaching here is very hard to practice. To oblige one to love one’s enemy is a difficult obligation. Ordinarily and naturally, people are inclined to love those who love them, show appreciation to those who show appreciation to them, and do good to those who do go to them.
However, Jesus’ challenge to His disciples and indeed us is to go beyond what is ordinary and natural. He wants us to go beyond and above the natural order. He wants us not to be satisfied with just being a marginal Christian. Jesus wants us to show that there is a difference (in attitude, lifestyle, morality, spirituality, etc.) between us, who are His followers and disciples, and those who are not. Thus, He said, “If you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do tax collectors not do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? (Matt. 5:46-47).
Being Divine-like
Jesus’ teaching in this passage is to help us become authentic and faithful children of God and aspire to be God-like or divine-like. According to Jesus Christ, when we love our enemies (those who do not love us) and pray for those who persecute us (those who castigate or deride us, pull us down, or plan all sorts of evil against us), we become children of our heavenly Father who does good both to the good people and bad people alike. Jesus wants us to aspire to be perfect, resembling our heavenly Father, who is perfect.
Let us continue to pray for the grace to be God-like and Christ-like in the actions of our daily lives, especially in showing love.
Always remember that Jesus loves you!
