Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

Praying for our Enemies

Outline

One of the hardest things to do is to love our enemies

I have seen in the Protestant world (including some Catholics I know who joined in) the argument that Christians have the authority to pray commands of destruction against their enemies, citing Paul in Acts 13, and I have seen others cite the imprecatory Psalms - wisely not in the liturgy of the hours and so not in the collective prayer of the Church - as a way to pray for Mr. Putin’s demise.

The only problem is that all this contradicts both the practice of the Church and the teaching of Jesus

Deuteronomy tells us that God’s commands are good for us

They are our agreement with God, the shape of our covenant

They keep us in the covenant

They are the shape of safety - like telling children to stop, look both ways, and only cross the road if there are no cars coming either way

That is why Psalm 119 is a peon of praise and thankfulness for the law, the Torah - it is good, it is God’s reality, and it reveals God’s heart

So Jesus, perhaps in response to the teaching of Zealots or Qumran, tells us to love our enemies

I have read in the Rule of the Community that one should hate all the sons of darkness

Jesus says, That is the human way.

The response of anger and hate is very human, very visceral.

Don’t act on it.

Why?

We could say because anger and hatred kill us - we are bound in self-destructive emotions

Jesus says, Love of enemy, praying for the enemy, is being like one’s heavenly Father.

2 Peter says, as the prophets also say, the God does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to salvation.

So we love our enemies to be like God and to enter into the heart of God - it is part of our divinization

Now what does this mean in practice?

Mr. Putin and probably others in the Russian regime seems to be quite vicious, even barbarous

What I would like to pray is that a hellfire missile find him as its target (this is what the USA uses to assassinate people)

Instead, I see his good.

I pray that he be restrained for further evil.

I pray that his heart will be turned to God.

I may pray that the Orthodox hierarchs have the course to speak words of truth.

I may do penance for his sins.

I may do penance for the sins of the USA that have set some precedents, that distort our worldview, and that might make it appropriate for God to punish us through Mr Putin, as the Assyrians attacked Israel.

I do not approve of the Russian actions by any means, but I leave all judgment to God.

Only he has the perspective and the authority to do so.

Sisters, this is difficult.

But who said that following Jesus would be easy.

He forgave his executioners from the cross.

I fall many times in this and I go to confession and I start again.

But if I do not recognize what the command is I am likely to end up living outside of the covenant and distant from Jesus.

No, I want to be like Jesus and his Father.

Readings

FIRST READING

Deuteronomy 26:16–19

16 This day the LORD, your God, is commanding you to observe these statutes and ordinances.

Be careful, then, to observe them with your whole heart and with your whole being.

17 Today you have accepted the LORD’s agreement: he will be your God, and you will walk in his ways, observe his statutes, commandments, and ordinances, and obey his voice.

18 And today the LORD has accepted your agreement: you will be a people specially his own, as he promised you, you will keep all his commandments, 19 and he will set you high in praise and renown and glory above all nations he has made, and you will be a people holy to the LORD, your God, as he promised.

RESPONSE

Psalm 119:1b

1 Blessed those whose way is blameless,

who walk by the law of the LORD.

PSALM

Psalm 119:1–2, 4–5, 7–8

1 Blessed those whose way is blameless,

who walk by the law of the LORD.

2 Blessed those who keep his testimonies,

who seek him with all their heart.

4 You have given them the command

to observe your precepts with care.

5 May my ways be firm

in the observance of your statutes!

7 I will praise you with sincere heart

as I study your righteous judgments.

8 I will observe your statutes;

do not leave me all alone.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

2 Corinthians 6:2b

2 For he says:

“In an acceptable time I heard you,

and on the day of salvation I helped you.”

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

GOSPEL

Matthew 5:43–48

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?

Do not the tax collectors do the same?

47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that?

Do not the pagans do the same?

48 So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Notes

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022 | LENT

SATURDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT

YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Deuteronomy 26:16–19

Response Psalm 119:1b

Psalm Psalm 119:1–2, 4–5, 7–8

Gospel Acclamation 2 Corinthians 6:2b

Gospel Matthew 5:43–48

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