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Who is your enemy?
The profundity of the dark abyss of the human heart is hard to measure. Against the stark reality
of evil and hatred, Jesus’ teaching confronts us as an ultimate challenge: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
In our country, we are entangled in hot-button issues such as abortion, incessant gun violence, anti-immigrant sentiments, systemic injustice and hate crimes against Black people, vilification and polarization among political opponents, etc.
The world is filled with loaded histories and uncomfortable memories among nations and peoples. The most common and repeated pattern of behavior is retaliation and violence. Mimetic contagion of vengeance is something that is learned and repeated in human history, asserts René Girard, the French philosopher. But Jesus put an end this type of learned behavior and habit of thinking. No more vengeance, no more scapegoating! “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Beyond stereotypical caricatures and categorization of supposed enemies, do we see the faces of our brothers and sisters of the one family of God our Father? St. Paul reasons from our ontological makeup: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you… all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.” This is truly a revolutionary understanding of the new humanity. Whom do we see in one another, especially in those perceived enemies?
As we gather in the church for the celebration of the Eucharist, we are invited to see each other through the eyes of Christ beyond our habits of thinking, learned behaviors, comfortable cocoons, and burdens of memories. Jesus transcends our sense of justice and fairness. Jesus not only breaks the cycle of retaliation and violence, but he demands us to love our enemies. Jesus challenges us to move beyond our self-interest and narcissism and to care for one another.
Through Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, we assume a radically new identity. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, the Body of Christ, and the People of God. We belong to Christ and to one another. How are we going to make this happen? We need to keep reminding ourselves of who we are and relating to one another accordingly. May the Holy Spirit continue to lead us, bring us together, and teach us to love one another!