Love and forgive until it hurts
SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C, 23RD FEBRUARY, 2025, St. Louis Pastoral Area, Efab Global, Mbora. Homily by Archbishop I.A.Kaigama.
1st Reading 1Samuel 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; 2nd Reading 1Corinthians 15:45-49; Gospel Luke 6:27-38
Theme: Love and forgive until it hurts
I am delighted to be with you, the priest in charge, Fr. Patrick Alumuku, your team of collaborators, and the entire members of St. Louis Pastoral Area, Efab Global, Mbora. Thirty-two (32) of your members will be confirmed today. Those of you already confirmed are regarded as mature, solid and genuine Christians, ready to spread the faith, defend the faith, and suffer even for the faith. The consequence of being a Christian is that you are called to love until it hurts.
Today’s readings present us with one of the most challenging aspects of Christian discipleship: love for our enemies and radical forgiveness. The world teaches us to seek justice through revenge, but Jesus calls us to something greater, something nobler – to love without limits, to show mercy even to those who do not deserve it, and to be reflections of the Father’s love.
This message is not easy, and yet it is central to our faith. It is what distinguishes us as followers of Christ. Where others are taught to fight and even kill for the faith, our Lord Jesus calls us to love, give the other cheek, forgive unconditionally, and never to attack or kill anyone over matters of religion.
As far back as in the Old Testament, David showed an uncommon and radical love. David’s Mercy foreshadowed Christ’s love. In our first reading today, King Saul, who was jealous of David and sought to kill him, is found asleep with his army. David’s servant urges him to take this opportunity to kill Saul, but David refuses, saying, “Do not lay your hand on the Lord’s anointed.” David had every reason to take revenge, instead, he chose mercy over retaliation. He understood that vengeance belongs to God alone (Rom 12: 17-19; Deut. 32:35).
Do you now know why as Catholics we are provoked by even fellow Christians who sometimes refer to us as worshipping idols, and even claim that we are not Christians? A confused Christian preacher called our Eucharist a very uncharitable and derogatory name. We do not fight over that. Watch some videos on social media castigating Catholics or sometimes Christians as a whole. Some call Jesus offensive names, some desecrate our Bible, misinterpret it, some glaringly insult our Pope, but we refuse to be provoked to the level of retaliation. We may complain, but we never use violent methods. We are taught not to wish harm upon those who have wronged us. This is based on the teaching of Jesus. He already made a prediction of this when He said in Matthew 5:11: “Blessed are you when they slander you, and persecute you, and speak all kinds of evil against you, falsely, for my sake.”
In our gospel reading, we received the divine exhortation of Jesus to love our enemies; do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who mistreat us – “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”. The ancient world often lived on the assumption, “Do good to others so that they will do good to you.” However, the command given by Jesus has no hidden agenda. It is “love for love’s sake;” “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you;” “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you;” “To the one who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other also.” These words go against every natural instinct. When we are hurt, our first reaction is to seek justice or even revenge. But Jesus tells us that Christian love must go beyond what is natural – it must be supernatural.
To love our enemies does not mean we approve of their wrongdoing, but rather, it means we choose to reflect God’s mercy instead of hatred. It is an invitation to break the cycle of violence and to respond with the same love that God has shown to us. Those who love in this way show themselves to be “children of the Most High.”
St. Paul reminds us in our second reading that we derived our body and way of life from the earthly man (Adam). In contrast, we derived the spirit that gives life and animates our body from the heavenly man (Christ). Hence, the spirit guides those who have received Christ. They are born of the Spirit. Christ’s new commandment may seem complicated and tough, but His spirit and grace will enable us to live these essential virtues and elements of our Christian life. In living our Christian life, we practice the virtue of love; adopting the way of non-violence and tackling evil with the weapons of love and truth alone. Jesus says, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
Lessons we should take away with us this Sunday:
Herod killed John the Baptist, because he (Herod) could not tamper his pride with rationality. Pilate, knowing Jesus was innocent approved his death. David rather chose mercy over revenge. How many innocent Nigerians are sentenced to death either by criminals or by those with power, for selfish motives? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” This means that every human life should be treated with ultimate dignity. Unfortunately, in our world and particularly in Nigeria today we see all kinds of inhuman treatment meted out to people. It has gotten bad to the point that when we hear that “only 10 people died from the bandit or unknown gunmen attack” we reason that at least not many died. You see how barbaric acts are gradually being tolerated as part of our existence?
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28) is not about being naive or passive. It is about transforming hate into love. This does not mean that we should allow those who want to hurt us to do so. No! It means that we should be open to forgiving those who hurt us and not wish them bad but pray for them that God may touch their heart to repent.
Let us ask our Blessed Mother to teach us how to love as Jesus loved us, to be merciful as our Father in Heaven is merciful.
Congratulations to all of you members of St. Louis Catholic Church, Efab Global Estate.
God used Sir. Raphael-jude Ude (KSM) the current Grand Knight of Abuja Sub-Council of the Order of Knights of Saint Mulumba, and some others to bring about the formation of the Catholic community in this estate, beginning in May 2016.
Chief Fabian Nwaorah, developer of Efab Global estate graciously gave the land on which this Church is built.
Fr. Anthony Olaniyan, the parish priest of the Holy Family Catholic Church, celebrated the first Mass in this estate on the 11th November 2017.
In August 2020 what started as a small Catholic community became a Pastoral Area, with Fr. Patrick Alumuku as the pioneer priest in charge, and since then the church has developed and is developing at an astronomic rate. To God be glory and praise.
The story of your pastoral journey is exactly what the synod on Synodality concluded last October called on baptized people to do and to be. There was no church here a few years ago. Now we have a wonderful Christian community brought about by God’s grace, your hard work and your unified approach to pastoral issues.
May God grant you an increase in faith.
Congratulations!
