Sunday Reflection, February 18: Loving Our Enemies?

Scripture Readings: http://www.usccb.org/nab/021807.shtml
1 Samuel 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
Psalm 103
1 Corinthians 15: 45-49
Luke 6: 27-38

My entire family had an unexpected day off this week, even my sister and her family living in Lebanon. A winter storm kept those of us living in Ohio and Chicago home, but political violence kept my sister and daughters home from school. We have “snow” days, whereas they have “political unrest” days. Although my family jokes about the distinction of the free days, it is difficult to ignore the reality of violence that threatens the stability of the country and ultimately the safety of my sister and her family.

Jennifer has been living in Lebanon for over 15 years. She met her husband, Ziad, in graduate school and moved to Lebanon shortly after getting married. They have two daughters and live north of Beirut in a predominately Maronite Christian community. Those of us living in the States look forward to her daily emails telling about her family’s activities. They are typically full of details that families in the U.S. experience everyday—ballet and piano practices, bad traffic, and disagreements at work. But sometimes they are different, like the one I received Tuesday morning. The subject line read, “We are okay.” I immediately checked it and learned there was more violence in Lebanon. Two mini-buses carrying immigrants and foreign workers were blown up, evidently an attempt to scare off demonstrators who were planning to commemorate the second anniversary of the former Prime Minister Hariri’s death. My sister was particularly upset because her friend used to ride one of the buses regularly to get to work. She could not understand peoples’ disregard for life that would compel them to commit such a disgusting act. This latest violence is one of the many political tactics to disrupt Lebanon’s fragile state. Of course, no one is taking responsibility for the act—each side is blaming the other. Having made Lebanon her home, Jennifer talks proudly of how the country rebuilt its communities after the civil war and is deeply saddened by the destruction and destabilization the country has experienced during the last year. Like the rest of us who follow the events in Iraq and throughout the world, she is wondering if peace is even possible.

The scripture readings for this Sunday are undoubtedly timely for a global community dealing with escalating conflicts and provide a difficult lesson for all of us who have felt the sting of violence, misunderstanding or wrongdoing. They speak about the Christian imperative of forgiveness and reconciliation, arguably the most difficult act of love. In the Gospel we read how Jesus instructs us to “…love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” In a time when pain and humiliation are personally felt by many and when we wrestle with finding methods that will provide reasonable safety and security for our families and communities, loving our enemies sounds virtually impossible and feels like we would open ourselves up to more pain and suffering. Plus, many of us today live in circumstances in which we do not even know how to begin to coexist peacefully with our neighbors, let alone love them.

Our Christian tradition tells us how. Forgiveness is a seemingly benign word that causes much discomfort. It requires us to take a deep look not only within our political structures, but also within ourselves to get to the truth that is disrupting our sense of peace. Our own inadequacies and sinful acts are typically tangled with the pain others have caused us. Oftentimes, we need to forgive ourselves and make amends for the injustice we have created, just as much as we need to forgive others for their sinful acts against us. Once we do this, then we are able to proceed to the next crucial steps in learning to live with and even love one another. As Fr. Brian McDermott, SJ, explains in his article on apostolic spirituality (click here for the article), it is our mission and duty as Christians to embark on spiritual journeys that cause us to be uncomfortable and to tackle the pain in our own hearts. We will then be able to take up our responsibility to spread the Gospel values and work for lasting peace in our communities and in this world.

Some people might recoil at such thoughts for peacebuilding, thinking they are naïve and too simplistic. They are sadly mistaken. Anyone who has committed him or herself to interfaith dialogue or conflict resolution knows how difficult the process of forgiveness is and understands that a shared, committed effort to conversation and working through differences is the only way to create lasting peace. Dialogue and forgiveness take time and patience, and certainly are not for the faint of heart.

Fortunately, we have a role model in Cardinal Joseph Bernardin when we embark on our personal and communal journeys of forgiveness and reconciliation. Commemorating the 10th anniversary of his death, the Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union is hosting a series of lectures during the year that highlight the Cardinal’s signature issues and the continued accomplishments done in the spirit of his vision. This Friday is one of the lectures, “The Legacy of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin: A Living Gift to the Church.” It was his dream to build a stronger Catholic community and relationships with other Christians and members of different religions to bring about the Gospel values of forgiveness, peace and justice.

The Cardinal knew first hand the difficulty of offering love and forgiveness. He personally experienced pain and public humiliation when someone falsely accused him of sexual abuse, and he courageously spoke his truth and later met with his accuser. This act of forgiveness was no easy feat. As Cardinal Bernardin noted in his personal reflections, published in “A Gift of Peace,” he became aware that his personal critics in the Church encouraged the impressionable young man to make the accusation against him. Cardinal Bernardin had to look deep within himself to find the courage to forgive this young man and to come to terms with the fact that some of his colleagues wanted to discredit him. He must have felt like an outcast in his own community—the very one he proudly and lovingly served throughout his life. His ability to turn negative feelings into forgiving love provides inspiration for us all and shows what impact forgiveness can have on personal and broader communal levels alike. We can look back on the way he chose to respond to adversity and hopefully find the courage to handle our personal difficulties with such grace.

Life in Lebanon continues, as it always has and will. People who live in such places where acts of terrorism and war seem almost normal are extremely resilient. Their spirits might be dampened but never crushed, and the hope for peace and love continue. My 14-year-old niece in Lebanon received a valentine from a secret admirer. It was a small box in the shape of a heart that was full of chocolates and love poems. Fortunately for all of us, the power of love is strong and provides hope for the future.

JoEllen Windau