Becoming a Christian Hero (2)

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C First Reading – 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23 Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 Gospel – Luke 6:27-38

Becoming a Hero in Everyday Life

Becoming a Hero in Everyday Life

Today's Gospel leaves us both amazed and challenged. Many people—especially those who don't share our faith—might find Jesus' teachings impossible. After hearing these words, some of my non-believing friends said to me, "You guys are crazy. This is impossible!" It seems impossible to follow Jesus' commands: blessing those who curse us, turning the other cheek when struck, or giving more than what is asked of us. And loving those who hate or hurt us? That's a tough call.

But the beauty of being Christ's disciples is that we're called to do what others can't. We are capable of doing the impossible things that seem beyond our reach. In other words, we're called to do extraordinary things—to be heroes.

There are a few key aspects in today's readings that can help us become heroes in our daily lives.

FIRST: LOVE – A CHRISTIAN HERO LOVES BEYOND FEELINGS AND NATURAL INCLINATIONS.

Natural: It’s easy to love those who love us, those who give us something, or those who make us happy. That’s natural and fair, and there’s nothing wrong with it. But here’s the challenge: Can I, can you, love those who hate you? Can you love those who make you suffer? Can you love those who even try to kill you?

It’s a tough challenge. It’s natural not to love those who have wronged us.

The question is, how can I love my enemies? I will explain this later.

SECOND: FORGIVENESS – A CHRISTIAN HERO FORGIVES THE UNFORGIVABLE.

Natural: Like love, it’s easy to forgive those who love us, forgive those who forgive us, or forgive those who make us happy. But it’s tough to forgive those who hurt us, those who make us suffer, or those who don’t repent for their actions.

The question is, how can I forgive the unforgivable? I will explain this later.

THIRD: MERCY – A CHRISTIAN HERO SHOWS MERCY.

The story of King David in the First Reading provides an example of mercy. When David refused to kill Saul, even though he had multiple opportunities, he showed incredible mercy. King Saul hated David and sought to kill him. Yet, David chose mercy. He respected Saul as God’s anointed king. David was a hero in showing mercy to Saul. We, too, can be heroes in showing mercy to others.

Again the question is “how”

HOW CAN I LOVE MY ENEMIES? HOW CAN I FORGIVE THE UNFORGIVABLE? HOW CAN I SHOW MERCY TO THE MERCILESS?

The answer to those questions is that The truth is, BY HUMAN EFFORT ALONE, WE CANNOT LOVE OUR ENEMIES, FORGIVE THE UNFORGIVABLE, OR SHOW MERCY TO THE MERCILESSLY HUMAN NATURE ALONE, WE CANNOT.

However, the good news is that we are NOT SIMPLY NATURAL BEINGS; WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS. WE ARE GRACED BY SUPERNATURAL BEINGS, GOD HIMSELF, AND WE CAN GO BEYOND OUR NATURAL INCLINATION AND DO WHAT GOD DOES IF HE IS WITH US.

IF CHRIST IS IN US, WE CAN DO ALL THINGS—EVEN THE IMPOSSIBLE THINGS. Paul said, “IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME.” As the Church Fathers often said, “GOD BECAME MAN SO THAT MAN MIGHT BECOME GOD,” meaning we share in the divine nature. WE CAN ONLY LOVE, FORGIVE, AND SHOW MERCY THROUGH JESUS, WHO LIVES IN US.

This is the most wonderful thing we have. As the second reading says, “We bear the image of the heavenly one.” We are the image of Christ and his dwelling places. We can do the impossible things. We are able to act in the manner of Christ. Christ is living in us, enabling us to live as He did, meaning we can love enemies as Christ did, forgive the unforgivable as He did, and show mercy to others as Christ did. WE CAN ONLY BECOME HEROES IF CHRIST IS LIVING IN US.

STORY:

I can name a lot of Christian heroes who forgive, love, and show mercy to their enemies.

But today, I would like to introduce One of my Christian heroes, Cardinal Nguyễn Văn Thuận. Born in Vietnam, Cardinal Thuận was appointed Archbishop of Saigon in 1975. After the fall of Saigon, he was arrested by the communist government for his role in the Church and imprisoned for 13 years, nine of which were spent in solitary confinement.

The communists killed his family members and relatives, and he endured isolation, forced labor, and severe torture. He was angry, grieved, and frustrated, even questioning God about his suffering and ministry. AT FIRST, ANGER AND GRIEF CONSUMED HIM, MAKING FORGIVENESS SEEM IMPOSSIBLE. But through deep reflection on the life of Christ—Cardinal Thuận realized, like St. Paul, that “it is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in him.” The Cardinal knew Christ lived in him, which is why he learned he needed to live like Christ and follow Christ’s commands of love, forgiveness, and mercy. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT LOVE AND FORGIVENESS WERE NOT OPTIONAL; THEY WERE COMMANDS FROM CHRIST, EVEN FOR HIS CAPTORS.

Over time, with God’s grace, he chose to forgive daily, softening his heart and praying for those who had wronged him. His kindness and peace transformed the hearts of those around him, including his harsh prison guards, some of whom were so moved by his love that they eventually converted to Christianity.

Correction officers prohibited their guards from talking to him because …..THEY BECAME HIS FRIENDS

Cardinal Thuận’s ability to love, forgive, and show mercy to his enemies comes God lives in him“it is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me.” The cardinal became a hero for loving, forgiving, and showing mercy to those who have done terrible things to him.

Conclusion

THE JOURNEY OF FAITH IS ABOUT BECOMING CHRISTIAN HEROES OR SAINTS. Becoming a hero means doing what heroes do: loving the unlovable, forgiving the unforgivable, and showing mercy to our enemies. We’re called to do this because, at times, we might be the unlovable, the unforgivable, or the enemy to others. With God, what seems impossible becomes possible.

WHAT SETS A HERO OR SAINT APART FROM A SINNER IS THAT HEROES LIVE LIKE CHRIST DID BECAUSE CHRIST IS LIVING IN THEM.

As the saying goes:

“THE FIRST PERSON WHO KNOWS HOW TO APOLOGIZE IS THE BRAVEST. THE FIRST PERSON WHO KNOWS HOW TO FORGIVE IS THE STRONGEST. THE FIRST PERSON WHO SHOWS MERCY TO THEIR ENEMY IS THE GREATEST. AND THE FIRST PERSON WHO KNOWS HOW TO LIVE and love LIKE CHRIST IS THE HERO OF ALL .”