Loving enemies: Daily Mass Homily--Thursday, September 11th, 2014

            St. Paul has an insightful line in the first reading: “Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.”

            As Catholics, knowing the truths of the faith can lead us to intellectual pride.  It is certainly important to know our faith well.  At the same time, we must be careful not to use knowledge as a weapon or to jam it down someone else’s throat.  We are to approach others, even those who disagree with our teachings, with love.

            Jesus introduces a radical love that we must follow: “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.  To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well…”  If we simply limit defining an enemy to those we don’t like or those who harm us in small ways, Jesus’ call isn’t that radical.

            Today we painfully remember true enemies—the terrorists who killed thousands of innocent men, women and children thirteen years ago.  We could think of the members of ISIS in Iraq and Syria who are employing the same terrorism methods today.  Now these are enemies of Christians and humanity in general.

            There are no easy answers in confronting hostile foes or defending the lives of innocent civilians.  While we have a right—even a duty—to protect ourselves and others, we must constantly discern what practical actions must be taken and weigh them with Jesus’ call to love.  In this regard I don’t have all the answers.

            Yet I do know we are called to pray.  We pray for those still grieving the loss of loved ones on 9-11.  We offer our spiritual support of religious minorities in Iraq and Syria who have suffered or even died for their faith.  And we also pray for the conversion of those responsible for such heinous crimes, and those who perpetuate terror now. 

            May Jesus, who called us to a radical love of enemies, grant wisdom to our political and spiritual leaders to take practical steps to eliminate terror in our world.  At the same time, may he inspire us all to approach even our enemies with love.