Today Mathew Kelly presented, Gospel Reflection for September 12, 2024 – Love is Not a Feeling. Watching this video I began to consider, what is love? To gain a better understanding of just what love is and the Catholic view of love, I opened my copy of Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J.:
LOVE: To will good to someone. Also, to please someone, either by sharing with that person what one possesses or by doing what someone wants. Basically, there are two kinds of love. The love of concupiscence, or self-interested love, means that another is loved for one’s own sake as something useful or pleasant to the one who loves. The love of friendship means selfless love of another for that person’s own sake, for his or her good, to please him or her; it is the love of benevolence.
But what is the love which we are commanded by Christ that we share with our enemies?
Love Of Enemies: Christ’s commandment of merciful love, shown especially in loving those who are not lovable. The enemies of whom Christ speaks are “those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44) “those who hate you… curse you” (Luke 6:28). This is the highest and truest test of selfless love, to “do good to… bless… pray for those who treat you badly” (Luke 6:28).
And so, what does that mean? It means that, I don't have to like everybody. I don't have to like my enemies. I don't have to like what they did to me or may still be doing. But I can still hope for their good. I can still will good things for them in their future. I can, and I am called by Christ, to pray for them.
In the Gospel reading of this day, Lk 6:27-38 we read:
27 “But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your cloak do not withhold your coat as well. 30Give to everyone who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. 31And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. 36Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
When we begin to look at love in this context, it quickly becomes apparent to me that what Christ is asking of us is really something simple, something that many, if not all, have been taught from a very early age. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. “The Golden Rule. “
Am I being called to like everyone? Of course not. But am I being called to be fair, respectful, merciful and wish good to all, to love all as Christ loves? Absolutely. I will not always live up to this call. Actually, as a fallen human I will most likely fail frequently. But, through and with the grace of our Lord, I must never cease trying.
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