Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

 

We see how Jesus has interpreted the commandment “You shall not kill” in such a way that its observance leads to the practice of love. Besides saying “You shall not kill”, Jesus quoted four other commandments. Five times, Jesus completes the ancient way of observing these commandments and indicates the new way to attain the objective of the law, which is the practice of love.

 

Jesus quotes the ancient law which says: You will love your neighbor and hate your enemy. This text is not found like this in the Old Testament. It is more a question of the mentality of the time, according to which there was no problem if a person hated his enemy. Jesus was not in agreement and Jesus gives us the proof. At the hour of His death He observed that which He preached.

 

The lack of humanity did not succeed to kill in Jesus His humanity and love! The poison of the lack of humanity did not succeed in suppressing the source of love and humanity which sprang from within Jesus. The water of the love which sprang from within was stronger than the poison of hatred which was coming from without. 

 

Be perfect as is your Father who is in Heaven. Jesus does not want to frighten, because this would be useless. He wants to change the system of human living altogether. The notion which He constructs comes from the new experience He has from God the Father, full of tenderness and who accepts all! Love should want the good of others independently of what they do for me. This is the way God’s love is for us.