"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. " (John 12)
Photo copyright : John R Portelli

Thursday 23 February 2017

"I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU"

Sunday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

It-Tmien Ħadd Matul is-Sena
Il-Providenza ta' Alla           

Messalin A pp 290

Reading 1
ISAIAH 49:14-15
Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my LORD has forgotten me.” Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget  you.  This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Lezzjoni
Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija 49, 14-15
Sijon kienet tgħid:  "Ħallieni l-Mulej, Sidi nsieni." Tista' mara tinsa t-tarbija tagħha, u ma tħennx għal bin ġufha? Imqar jekk din tinsa, jien ma ninsiek qatt! Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm              
PSALM  62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.

Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.

With God is my safety and my glory,
he is the rock of my strength; my refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.

Salm Responsorjali                                                              
Salm 61(62)
F'Alla biss il-mistrieħ ta' ruħi;
mingħandu tiġini s-salvazzjoni.
Hu biss il-blata u s-salvazzjoni tiegħi,
hu l-kenn tiegħi:  xejn ma jċaqlaqni.                   
F'Alla biss il-mistrieħ ta' ruħi.

F'Alla biss il-mistrieħ ta' ruħi,
għax mingħandu tiġini t-tama.
Hu biss il-blata u s-salvzzjoni tiegħi,
hu l-kenn tiegħi;  xejn ma jċaqlaqni.                   
F'Alla biss il-mistrieħ ta' ruħi.

F'Alla s-salvazzjoni u l-ġieħ tiegħi,
hu l-blata qawwija tiegħi, u l-kenn tiegħi f'Alla.
Ittama fih f'kull żmien, o poplu;
Iftħu qalbkom quddiemu.                                 
F'Alla biss il-mistrieħ ta' ruħi.

Reading 2                  
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Brothers and sisters: Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. Therefore do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God. This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Lezzjoni
Qari mill-Ewwel Ittra ta' San Pawl lill-Korintin 4, 1-5
Ħuti, in-nies għandhom iħarsu lejna bħala ministri ta' Kristu u amministraturi tal-misteri ta' Alla. Issa barra minn dan, l-amministraturi wieħed  jistenniehom li jkunu fidili. Iżda ngħid għalija, ftit li xejn jimpurtani li nkun iġġudikat minnkom jew minn xi tribunal tal-bnedmin; anqas jiena stess ma niġġudika lili nnifsi. Tassew li jiena stess ma nħoss xejn fuq il-kuxjenza hiegħi;  iżda  mhux  b'daqshekk jien iġġustifikat;  hu l-Mulej li jiġġudikani. Għalhekk tiġġudikawx qabel il-waqt sa ma jiġi l-Mulej; hu għad joħroġ għad-dawl dak li hu moħbi fid-dlam, u jikxef  il-feħmiet mistura tal-qalb. U mbagħad kull wieħed jieħu mingħand Alla t-tifħir li jkun jistħoqqlu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel            
MATTHEW 6:24-34
Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild  flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

L-Evanġelju
Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Mattew 6, 24-34
F'dak iż-żmien Ġesu' qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: "Ħadd ma jista' jaqdi żewġ sidien; għax jew ikun jobgħod lil wieħed u jħobb lill-ieħor, jew jintrabtu ma' wieħed u jistmell lill-ieħor. Ma tistgħtu taqdu lil alla u lill-flus. Għalhekk ngħidilkom:  tinkwetawx ruħkom għall-ħajjitkom, x'se tieklu jew x'tixorbu, anqas għal ġisimkom x'se tilbsu.  Jaqaw il-ħajja m'hijiex aqwa mill-ikel, u  l-ġisem aqwa mil-ilbies? Ħarsu lejn l-għasafar tas-sema;  la jiżirigħu u lanqas jaħsdu u lanqas iġeddsu fl-imħażen, u madankollu  Missierkom li hu  fis-smewwiet jitmagħhom!   Intom ma tiswewx aktar minnhom? U min minnkom, bl-inkwiet kollu tiegħu, se jseħħlu  Jtawwal għomru mqar b'jum wieħed biss?   U għall-ilbies għalfejn  tinkwetaw ruħkom?   Ħarsu lejn il-ġilji ta' l-għelieqi, kif jikbru! U la jiħabtu u lanqas jinsġu.  Madankollu, ngħidilkom,  anqas Salamun, fil-glorja kollha tiegħu, ma kien  jilbes bħal wieħed minnhom. Mela jekk  Alla jlibes hekk imqar ħaxixa selvaġġa li llum hawn u għada tinxteħet fil-forn, kemm aktar lilkom, nies ta' fidi ċkejna!   Għalhekk  toqgħdux tinkwetaw ruħkom u tgħidu:  "X'se nieklu?  X'se nixorbu?  X'se nilbsu?" għax dawn huma kollha ħwejjeġ li jifttxuhom il-pagani.  Imma Missierkom li hu fis-smewwiet jaf li dan u dan kollu jingħatalkom ukoll.   Mela toqogħdux tħabblu raskom għall-għada, għax il-jum ta' għada jħabbel rasu hu għalih innifsu.   Biżżejjed  hu għall-jum it-taħbit tal-ġurnata. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Just When You Think 
Life Is for the Birds, 
Take Heart
Commentary by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB

In Sunday's reading from Matthew's Gospel (6:25-34), Jesus does not deny the reality of human needs (v. 32), but forbids making them the object of anxious care and, in effect, becoming their slave.

Those who truly know God as the heavenly Father revealed by Jesus cannot be concerned about human needs in the same way. While disciples have to take reasonable care of themselves and of those for whom they are responsible, such concerns take second place to dedication to the rule of God and the "righteousness" (v. 33) for which it calls.

Verse 25 of this Sunday's Gospel indicates two major areas of concern for the human being: sustenance (food and drink) necessary for life, and clothing. Each of the areas is addressed -- food (vv. 26-27), clothing (vv. 28-30) -- in an argument that rests upon a New Testament logic. If God takes such care of the birds in the air, and ensures their feeding, and sees to it that the lilies of the field are magnificently adorned, how much more then will our heavenly Father take pains to see that the disciples shall not go wanting, since they are more precious in the divine sight than the birds of air and the flowers of the field?

In using this analogy, Jesus is by no means making a moral statement, but rather an imaginative appeal.

Worrywart

The great Christian author and apologist C.S. Lewis was a devout Christian, but he admitted that throughout his life he was a great worrier! Commenting on today's Gospel passage (Matthew 6:25-34), Lewis frequently wrote to his friends saying: "If God wanted us to live like the birds of the air, it would have be nice for him to have given us a constitution that was more like theirs!"

Jesus did not seem to be a person who worried a great deal; he lived his life on the principle of trusting his heavenly Father, and he tried to teach his followers to do the same. The refrain running through today's Gospel contains the sentiments of "do not worry" (vv. 25, 27, 28, 31 and twice in 34). A better translation of the expression could be, "do not fret" or "do not be preoccupied." Disciples may have legitimate concerns for material goods, but if those concerns are filled with insecurities and cause new forms of enslavement to wealth, they will inevitably lead people into slavery to two separate masters. We are called to serve God and God alone in the deepest sense in order to experience authentic freedom.

Providential care

The three Scripture readings for this Sunday invite us to reflect on God's providential care of us. When we say 'Divine Providence,' we are referring to the name of God, especially God as Father and Creator, which brings all of the dynamics of human existence into meaning. Providence is often expressed only as a design for the universe in which all is ordered and formed as care for lilies and sparrows. Though the term Providence is applied to God only three times in Scripture (Ecclesiastes 5:5; Wisdom 14:3; Judith 9:5), and once to Wisdom (Wisdom 6:17), teaching about Providence is consistently found in both the Old and the New Testaments. God's will governs all things. God loves all people, desires the salvation of all and God's paternal Providence extends to all nations. God desires not the death of sinners, but rather that they should repent; for God is above all things a merciful God and a God of much compassion. God rewards us according to our works, our thoughts and our devices. God alone converts evil into good.

You are worth more

Jesus taught about God's provident care for his children and on not being anxious for the future. Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Jesus invited his disciples then and now to "consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!" What holds true for food applies also to clothing and other necessities of life ("consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these").

Those who see reality permeated by the Providence of God gradually grow in wisdom. Serenity, born of time and grace, becomes evident to onlookers and passersby. The terrible beauty of the earth, with its calms and its storms, its gentle breezes and its hurricanes, its new life and its deaths, seems somehow to be within the person who lives by trustingly believing in God's Providence.

What is worth fearing?

Throughout the Old Testament, humans are the main subjects of fear. The reasons for this fear are war, death, enslavement, loss of a wife or child, disaster, or even a particular place. Trust in God brings freedom from fear. Fear also arises in the presence of those who stand in a special relation to God, such as Moses (Exodus 34:30), Joshua (Joshua 4:14), or Samuel (1 Samuel 12:18).

How many times in the Gospels do we hear Jesus telling people to "Fear not!"  Jairus is not to be anxious (Mark 5:36); the disciples receive assurance (Mark 6:50); the three apostles atop Mount Tabor are enabled to look up (Matthew 17:7); the women's fear gives way to proclamation and resurrection faith (Matthew 28:10); those whom the angels visit in the infancy narratives are told not to fear (Luke 1:13, 30; 2:10); and in a vision, Peter and Paul are both told by the Lord not to fear in a context of discipleship and service (Luke 5:10 and Acts 18:9).

What is worth fearing? Jesus warns his followers about those who can harm the soul. To what does this refer today? To those people or situations who can dehydrate the spirit, crushing it and sapping it of life, killing hopes and dreams, destroying faith and joy. Often those who dehydrate the spirit and kill hope and joy are not "bad" people! In fact, they are often very good people, and yes, even "church" people and ‘religious’ people! We often harm the souls of others through our cynicism, our meanness of spirit and smallness of mind and heart; our lack of faith, hope and joy. How often have we denied Jesus through our own reluctance to talk about him and give witness to him, for fear of excluding others?

It is consoling to know once in a while that all of our trials and tribulations, our pains anxieties are not in vain. The next time we get that fearful feeling that our life is for the birds, let us take heart, and have a bit more courage and confidence in the Father's care.

Thursday 16 February 2017

Love your enemies

 Sunday of the Seventh Week
in Ordinary Time

Is-Seba' Hadd Matul is-Sena
Ħobbu 'l Egħdewwa tagħkom
Messalin A pp 284 

Reading 1      
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy. “You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” This is the Word of the Lord.

L-Ewwel Lezzjoni
Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Levitku 19, 1-2 17-18
Il-Mulej kellem lil Mose' u qallu: "Għid lill-ġemgħa kolla ta' wlied Iżrael: "Għandkom tkunu qaddisin,  għax qaddis jienil-Mulej Alla tagħkom.La tbejjitx lil ħuk f'qalbek, imma lil għajrek  wissieh u erġa' wissih, biex ma tkunx ħati tiegħu. La titħallasx b'idejk, u la żżommx f'qalbek għal ulied niesek, imma ħobb lil għajrek bħalek innifsek: Jiena l-Mulej.". Il-Kelma tal-Mulej      

Responsorial Psalm              
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
                  
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Salm Responsorjali                                                              
Salm 102(103)
           
Bierek, ruħ tiegħi, lill-Mulej!
B'qalbi kollha nbierek l-isem qaddis tiegħu.
Bierek, ruħ tiegħi, lill-Mulej,
u la tinsiex il-ġid kollu li għamel miegħek.                       
R/    Ħanin u twajjeb il-Mulej

Hu li jaħfer dnubietek kollha;
ifejjaq il-mard tiegħek kollu;
jifdi lil ħajtek mill-qabar;
iħaddnek bit-tjieba u bil-ħniena.                        
R/    Ħanin u twajjeb il-Mulej

Ħanin u twajjeb il-Mulej,
idum ma jagħdab u kollu mogħdrija.
Ma mexiex magħna skond ma ħaqqhom ħtijietna;
ma ħallasniex skond ma ħaqqha ħżunitna.                      
R/    Ħanin u twajjeb il-Mulej

Daqs kjemm hu mbiegħed il-Lvant mill-Punent,
hekk hu jbiegħed minna ħtijietna.
Bħalma jħenn il-missier għal uliedu,
hekk iħenn il-Mulej għal min għandu l-biża' tiegħu.          
R/    Ħanin u twajjeb il-Mulej

Reading 2      
Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: God catches the wise in their own ruses,  and again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,  Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God. This is the Word of the Lord.


It-Tieni Lezzjoni
Qari mill-Ewwel Ittra ta' San Pawl Appostlu lill-Korintin 3, 16-23
 Ħuti,  ma tafux li intom tempju ta' Alla u -Ispirtu ta' Alla  jgħammar fikom?  Jekk xi ħadd jeqred it-tempju ta' Alla, Alla jeqred lilu.  Għax  qaddis hu t-tempju ta' Alla, li huwa intom. Ħadd ma għandu jitqarraq!  Jekk xi ħadd fostkom jaħseb li Hu għaref f'din id-dinja,  ħa jiblieħ, biex  isir għaref. Għax hemm miktub:  "Hu li jaqbad l-għorrief fil-ħażen tagħhom;  u terga' :  "Il-Mulej jaf li fiergħa huma l-ħsibijiet ta' l-għorrief." Għalhekk ħadd ma għandu jiftaħar bil-bnedmin,  Għax kollox hu tagħkom:  sew jekk Pawlu, sew jekk Apollo, sew jekk Kefa, sew jekk id-dinja, sew jekk il-ħajja, sew jekk il-mewt,  sew jekk iż-żmien ta' issa, sew jekk li ġej; kollox huwa tagħkom, u  intom ta' Kristu, u Kristu ta' Alla. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.
                  
Gospel                       
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles.  Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?  So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  This is the Word of the Lord.

L-Evanġelju
Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Mattew 5, 38-48
F'dak iż-żmien, Ġesu' qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: "Smajtu xi ntqal:  "Għajn b'għajn u sinna b'sinna." Imma jiena ngħidilkom biex bniedem ħażin ma tiqfulux;  anzi jekk xi ħadd jagħtik daqqa ta' ħarta fuq ħaddejk tal-lemin,  dawwarlu l-ieħor ukoll; u lil min ikun irid itellgħek il-qorti  u jeħodlok il-libsa, ħallilu wkoll il-mantar.   U jekk xi ħadd iġħagħlek timxi miegħu mil wieħed,  mur miegħu tnejn. Agħti lil min jitolbok u ddawwarx spallejk lil min ikun irid jissellef mingħandek. Smajtu xi ntqal:  Ħobb lil għajrek, u obgħod lill-għadu tiegħek." Imma jiena ngħidilkom:  Ħobbu lill-għedewwa tagħkom, u itolbu għal dawk li jippersegwitawkom, biex  tkun wlied Missierkom li hu fis-smewwiet; għax hu jtalla' x-xemx sew fuq il-ħżiena u sew fuq it-tajbin, u jniżżel ix-xita sew fuq it-tajjeb u sew fuq  min m'huwiex. Għax jekk intom tħobbu lil min iħobbkom,  xi ħlas jistħoqqilkom? Mhux il-pubblikani wkoll jagħmlu dan?  U  jekk issellmu lil ħutkom biss, xi tkunu tagħmlu żejjed? Mhux il-pagani wkoll jagħluh dan?  Kunu mela perfetti, bħalma perfett Missierkom li hu fis-smewwiet.         Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
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Commentary:
“Be Holy, For I, the Lord, Your God, Am Holy" 

By Matthew Harrison

The Scripture readings for next Sunday issue three calls to us– to be holy as the Lord our God is holy; to not deceive ourselves with the wisdom of this age; and to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Let us begin our reflections this week by considering the words of the Leviticus reading (19:1-2, 17-18.)

God is the Holy One and the Creator of human life, and the human being is blessed and obliged by God’'s utter holiness. Therefore every human life is holy, sacrosanct and inviolable. According to Leviticus 19:2 God’s holiness constitutes an essential imperative for the moral behavior: "You shall be holy for I am Holy, the Lord your God!" This loaded statement describes best the vocation of every man and woman, and the entire mission of the Church throughout history: a call to holiness.

You shall be holy

Holiness is a truth that pervades the whole of the Old Covenant: God is holy and calls all to holiness. The Mosaic Law exhorted: "You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy." Holiness is in God, and only from God can it pass to the crown of God’s creation: human beings. We are made in the image and likeness of God, and God’s holiness, his ‘total otherness’ is imprinted on each one of us. Human beings become vehicles and instruments of God’s holiness for the world.

This holiness is the fire of God's Word that must be alive and burning within our hearts. It is this fire, this dynamism, that will burn away the evil within us and around us and cause holiness to burst forth, healing and transforming the society and culture surrounding us. Evil is only eradicated by holiness, not by harshness. Holiness introduces into society a seed that heals and transforms.

Holiness is a way of life that involves commitment and activity. It is not a passive endeavor, but rather a continuous choice to deepen one's relationship with God and to then allow this relationship to guide all of one's actions in the world. Holiness requires a radical change in mindset and attitude. The acceptance of the call to holiness places God as our final goal in every aspect of our lives. This fundamental orientation toward God even envelops and sustains our relationship with other human beings. Sustained by a life of virtue and fortified by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, God draws us ever closer to himself and to that day when we shall see Him face to face in heaven and achieve full union with him.

Here and now, we can find holiness in our personal experience of putting forth our best efforts in the work place, patiently raising our children, and building good relationships at home, at school and at work. If we make all of these things a part of our loving response to God, we are on the path of holiness.

True wisdom

In Sunday's second reading (1 Corinthians 3:16-23), St. Paul, in continuing his reproach of the Corinthians for their contentions (1-4), reminds the community that the churches of Christ ought to be kept pure, and humble (16:17). To have a high opinion of our own wisdom, is but to flatter ourselves; and self-flattery is the next step to self-deceit. People are deceived who deem themselves the temples to be temples of the Holy Spirit yet are unconcerned about personal holiness, or the peace and purity of the church.

If the Corinthians were genuinely wise (3:18-20), their perceptions would be reversed, and they would see everything in the world and all those with whom they exist in the Church in their true relations with one another. Paul assigns all the persons involved in the theological universe a position on a scale: God, Christ, Church members, Church leaders. Read from top to bottom, the scale expresses ownership; read from bottom to top, the obligation to serve. This picture should be complemented by similar statements such as those in 1 Corinthians 8:6 and 1 Corinthians 15:20-28. Christians are holy by profession, and should be pure and clean, both in heart and conversation.

Love your neighbour

As we reflect on Sunday’s Gospel passage (Matthew 25:38-48), Jesus in no way teaches us to be passive in the face of physical danger. Jesus teaches that violence can breed violence. And if non resistance will shame our opponent into peace, then such is the better course.

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil." (Matthew 5:38-39). With metaphorical language Jesus teaches us to turn the other cheek, to hand over not only the tunic but also the cloak, not to respond with violence to the vexations of others, and above all, "Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow" (5:42). This is a radical exclusion of the law of retaliation in the personal life of Jesus' disciples whatever be the right of society to defend its members from evildoers and to punish those guilty of violating the rights of citizens and of the state itself.

Jesus teaches the ultimate step in the process of bringing to perfection, that in which all the others find their dynamic centre: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust" (5:43-45). In opposition to the common interpretation of the old law which identified the neighbor with the Israelite, and indeed with the pious Israelite, Jesus set out the authentic interpretation of God's commandment. He added to it the religious dimension of reference to the clement and merciful heavenly Father who does good to all and is therefore the supreme exemplar of universal love.
Jesus concluded, "Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect" (5:48). He asked of his followers the perfection of love. Love is the synthesis of the new law he brought. This love will enable us to overcome in our relations with others the classical opposition of friend-enemy. It will tend from within hearts to transform into corresponding forms of social, political and even institutionalized solidarity.

The fruit of nonviolence is love

There are lots of mean-spirited people who have never broken the law, but can they truly be models for Christians? There is always the risk of being taken advantage of when we are generous and unselfish. If we open ourselves to love, we may very well get hurt. If we share our material goods, we may very well be used. In no instance are we obligated to get hurt or used; it just happens sometimes. The only way to be fully protected is to be suspicious, stingy, cynical and selfish. But this is certainly inconsistent with love. The fruit of nonviolence is love. This love blossoms everywhere when people meet each other, and everywhere it divulges its divine origins. This love overcomes all opposition. It brings together strangers, overcoming distance. It fills emptiness. It heals the sick. It raises the dead to life.

Let us try to break those patterns within us individually and communally that lead to violence, destruction and lack of love. If violence seems a reasonable option for us, then let us invent a different kind of logic. If violence is a machine, dealing mechanically with people whom we don't like, let us pray for the courage to throw a monkey wrench into it. And if violence is a chain of which we are part, let us be the first link that's broken.

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