[stephenkhoo]

Scripture Reflections
Tuesday,19 June, 2012, 11th Week, Ordinary Time
OUR ENEMIES, PERCEVED OR REAL ARE OUR ALLIES
SCRIPTURE READINGS: 1 KG 21:17-29; MT 5:43-48

We all have enemies in life. There are two kinds of enemies. On one hand they are quite different, yet on the other hand, they serve a common purpose. One is perceived and the other is real.

Who are the perceived enemies? They are those who are truly concerned for our well-being and happiness but would not hesitate to challenge us and correct us if they see us going the wrong way. Such perceived enemies could include our teachers, parents and friends and anyone who takes the role of a true prophet without fear or favour. This was the case of Elijah who was apparently always on the back of King Ahab. The latter saw him as his principal enemy because he always spoke out against his pagan and unjust social policies. He was truly a nuisance in Ahab’s life because he was acting like his conscience.

Then there are the real enemies who seek to harm us. These are people who seek to harm us for their own interests. This group of people is personified in Jezebel. So wicked was she that her name is synonymous with wickedness, witchcraft, treachery and spiritual seduction. (cf Rev 2:20) We will of course face many of these real enemies in our lives because they will act against us due to greed, envy, jealousy, pride or lust. And of course when exposed or confronted, they will react even with greater hostility and defensiveness.

But whatever the situation and whatever forms our enemies appear to us, they all help us to grow in holiness and grace if we see them from the perspective of Christ. Jesus said “You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven.” Yes, we must love our enemies. How can we love them unless we see them as sons and daughters of God who too are loved by Him? After all, as Jesus said, “he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike.”

The plain truth is that our perceived enemies are instruments or messengers sent by God to save us from greater harm and consequences. They have no intent to hurt us, even if they might not have always been gentle in correcting us. Retribution and justice is the principle of life. We reap what we sow.

It is a fact that many of us do not repent even though we know the truth about ourselves and our evil and sinful acts. Ahab refused to acknowledge his sin initially. He would not admit even when he was found out until he was threatened. Like him, we are brought to repentance only when we are confronted with imminent judgment and retribution. Life is such that we often learn the hard way through suffering and pain. Yes, it was because God was cruel that He could be kind to Ahab, otherwise he would not have changed from a proud and hardened heart to one that is contrite. “When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments and put sackcloth next to his skin and fasted; he slept in the sackcloth; he walked with slow steps.”

Unfortunately, some of us never learn from our mistakes because we are too proud even to repent and change. What is even more tragic is that our sins not only hurt us but also others who are related to us. It is significant that the punishment meted out by God extended beyond Ahab. He said, “For your double dealing, and since you have done what is displeasing to the Lord, I will now bring disaster down on you; I will sweep away your descendants, and wipe out every male belonging to the family of Ahab, fettered or free in Israel … (Against Jezebel too the Lord spoke these words: The dogs will eat Jezebel in the field of Jezreel.) Those of Ahab’s family who die in the city, the dogs will eat; and those who die in the open country, the birds of the air will eat.”

Today, let us pray for the humility of Ahab. We take courage and find consolation that when God requites our offences, He also soothes our wounds. God is intolerable of injustices especially against the community. He punishes but He also forgives. So long as we are contrite like Ahab and King David who wrote the responsorial psalm of today’s liturgy, God will respond positively to our sorrow for our sins. Instead of living in denial, let us face the music calmly with a contrite heart. The sooner we repent and wake up to our consciousness, the lesser the price we have to pay for our sins and evil actions. So we must welcome such prophets like Elijah in our lives.

Perhaps, it might be easier to accept that our perceived enemies attack us for our good. But how can our real enemies who seek to harm us be considered as contributive to our happiness? Saint Isaac the Syrian (7th century) in one of his discourses wrote, “How can one say no more than that God is just when one reads the chapter about the prodigal son who squandered his father’s wealth in a life of dissipation and how, at the merest sign of compunction shown by him, his father ran to him, threw his arms round him and granted him full rights over all his wealth? (cf Lk 15,11ff.). It was not some other who told us all this about God, causing us to have doubts about it. It is his Son in person; he himself gave this testimony concerning God. So where is God’s justice to be found? Is it not in this: «while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,» (Rom 5,8)? If God reveals himself to be compassionate here below then let us believe that he will be so for all eternity.”

Thus when persecuted by such enemies of ours, like Jesus and our heavenly Father, we must overcome them with love, compassion and forgiveness. As Jesus reminds us, “For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” These enemies of ours, if seen from the perspective of the Father and through the eyes of Jesus, can purify us in love and allow us to love unconditionally and selflessly like God the Father and the Son.

In the process, we actually become more and more like God, perfected in His love and mercy. So whilst the true prophets in our lives help us to avoid sinning, the second group of enemies gives us the opportunity to be perfected in love. We must be ready to suffer with God who often receives ingratitude for the good He has done for us.

How can we act in such a manner towards our enemies? With God’s grace, nothing is impossible. So we must turn to Jesus to give us a share of His Spirit just as the Father gave Him His Spirit. Love and forgiveness ultimately are the only weapons that will overcome hatred and sin; bring sinners to repentance and healing. Within this context, we can appreciate better why God saves us through the passion, death and resurrection of His only Son. Instead of taking revenge on us, He forgives us by suffering the consequences of sin in Himself. This, then, is God’s weapon of winning His battle against sin and selfishness.