Alright, y’all. Let’s be honest: today’s Gospel is kind of a hard pill to swallow.

“Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.”

Really, Jesus? Love my enemies? Pray for people who mistreat me? It’s almost like we want to say to Him: “Dude, have you seen the world we live in? It’s hard enough to love people we actually like, let alone those we don’t!”

And yet, this is exactly what Jesus calls us to do. And not just because it sounds nice; but because this kind of love – this radical, countercultural, makes-no-sense-to-the-world love – is the very heart of what it means to follow Him. Embracing it allows us to live as He calls us to live.

David’s Restraint: A Real-Life Example

Our first reading from the First Book of Samuel gives us a perfect example of what this looks like in real life.

David is on the run, being hunted down by King Saul, who is jealous of him and wants him dead. One night, David and his men sneak into Saul’s camp, and there he is – Saul, fast asleep, completely vulnerable. David’s men whisper to him, “This is it! God has given your enemy into your hands! Take him out now!”

David has every reason to do it. This is the man who has made his life miserable. This is the moment to get revenge, to take what’s his, to end the fight.

But he doesn’t.

Instead, David takes Saul’s spear as proof that he was there, that he could have killed him…but didn’t. And then, once he is a safe distance away, David calls out, saying, “The Lord will reward each man for his justice and faithfulness.”

David had power over Saul, but he chose mercy over revenge. He let God be the judge.

Love in Action: What Jesus Calls Us To

This is exactly the kind of love Jesus talks about in today’s Gospel.

We live in a world that runs on revenge and payback. Think about it. Someone hurts you, what does society tell us to do? Hurt them back. Someone spreads gossip about you? You make sure they get exposed. Someone disrespects you? You cut them out of your life. That’s what feels fair.

But Jesus doesn’t call us to fairness. He calls us to mercy.

He’s not just telling us to be nice – He’s asking us to love the way He loves.

Think about how God responds to us: every time we sin, we act as enemies of God, in a sense – in the very least, we are enemies of His plan. And yet, what does He do? Does He hold grudges? Cut us off? Make us earn His forgiveness? Of course not. He loves us anyway. He blesses us. He meets us in Confession with grace and mercy. He calls us to conversion and transformation, yes…but that’s done in charity.

Loving our enemies isn’t just about being a good person – it’s about becoming like God. That’s the whole point of Christianity.

The Challenge: Who’s Your “Enemy”?

Now, before we think about extreme cases like David and Saul, let’s bring this a little bit closer to home. What does this look like for us?

Who are the “enemies” in our lives?

• That coworker who always takes credit for your work?
• That family member who knows exactly how to push your buttons?
• That friend who betrayed your trust?
• That neighbor who always complains?
• The person who deeply hurt you?

Loving our enemies doesn’t mean pretending nothing happened. Because, let’s face it, all of us have been hurt in some way; all of us have been wounded by others. Jesus isn’t saying that’s not the case. And He’s also not saying that we should let people walk all over us. What He is saying though is that loving our enemies means responding with mercy instead of revenge.

What Does That Look Like?

So, what does this actually look like in real life? How do we put it into practice?

1. We’ve got to get to a place where we can PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES – And, guys, don’t approach that prayer with an agenda. Don’t go into it saying: “God, fix them.” Instead, pray for their good. Ask God to bless them. Be honest with the Lord, tell him: “This is really hard for me to do, but, Lord, I want you to bless them.” It’s a lot harder to be angry at someone when you bring them before God…because doing that changes our hearts.
2. DO SOMETHING KIND – Even when they don’t deserve it. A kind word. A small gesture. A choice to show patience instead of frustration. Mercy isn’t fair…that’s the point.
3. Finally, LET GO OF REVENGE – Like David, trust that God is the one who judges rightly. Because the truth of the matter is, holding on to resentment only poisons us.

Why It Matters

Loving our enemies isn’t weakness. This isn’t letting people get away with things. This is the greatest strength that we can ever possess. It’s breaking the cycle of hate. It’s choosing to live differently. It’s living in freedom. It’s striving for holiness, for perfection.

At the end of today’s Gospel, Jesus sums it up perfectly. He tells us: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” That’s the goal. That’s the mission. And when we live this way, when we refuse to play the world’s game of payback and revenge, we don’t just change our relationships – we change our hearts AND we change the world.

So, this week, let’s ask ourselves:

• Who do I need to forgive?
• Who do I need to pray for?
• Who have I written off, but Jesus is calling me to love anyway?

Because when we love the unlovable, we’re not just following Jesus. We’re becoming like Him. And that, my friends, is exactly what we need a little bit more of today.

Photo: David with Saul’s Spear. Image generated using Jetpack AI Assistant.

Readings for Mass: Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time