Now listen to what the Gospel instructs us to be. In the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, “But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you; bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you; unto him that smiteth thee on one cheek, offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid him not to take thy coat also. Give to every one that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again. And as you would want that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”
These directions may seem impossible. But they are not impossible, they are just “not of this world.” We grow into them gradually, and to the extent that we are able. But even when we fail at them practically, we keep them before us, for directional purposes, like the ancient mariners kept the North Star, for their bearings. The world, which does not know Christ, may have to be mistrustful and cold. But Christians, on the contrary, must remain loving and open, or else we lose the very Salt of Christ within us, and we become good for nothing, but to be “cast out and trodden under foot.” The most important thing, is to resist hardheartedness, and to cultivate a soft heart, even in the midst of difficulties. It is difficult to love those, whom we should, by the best of worldly standards, hate. But to love even the hateful, is perhaps the Saint’s first duty. God give us the grace to love those, whom by all worldly standards, we should hate. The Gospel tells us, then we will be children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
