Our Gospel today is very challenging, especially in a time when our society has become deeply divided. Jesus tells us: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

These are difficult words. But perhaps these are exactly the words our country needs to hear today. We are becoming very polarized. Politics divides us. Elections divide us. Social media divides us. Sometimes even families and friends become divided because of different opinions.

And Jesus reminds us of three things.

First, disagreement should never become hatred.

Jesus does not say that we have to agree with everybody. We can disagree. We can criticize what is wrong. We must speak against corruption, injustice, dishonesty, and abuse. But we should never forget the dignity of the person before us.

Sometimes we no longer see a person; we only see a label: pro-this, anti-that, DDS, dilawan, kakampink, left, right.

Jesus says: “Love your enemies.”

In other words, even if that person is not on your side, that person is still a child of God.

Second, do not become what you are fighting against.

Jesus says: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

If we oppose lies, let us not spread lies ourselves. If we condemn bullying, let us not bully others online. If we oppose hatred, let us not become hateful. If we fight corruption, let us make sure there is no corruption in our own lives.

We cannot defeat darkness by becoming darkness ourselves.

And third, Jesus says: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Our behavior should not depend on how other people treat us.

“Kung insultohon ko niya, insultohon pud nako siya.” That may be the way of the world. But it cannot be the way of Jesus. Our standard is not the behavior of the other side. Our standard is the mercy of the Father.

Turn enemies into friends

There is a beautiful story about Abraham Lincoln. During a time of terrible division in America, someone criticized him because he was speaking kindly about his political enemies.

The person reportedly told him, “You should destroy your enemies, not befriend them.”

Lincoln answered with a beautiful thought: “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”

Final Words

What a different way of conquering an enemy—not by humiliating him, but by refusing to hate him.

My dear brothers and sisters, our world already has enough people building walls. Let Christians build bridges.

We may disagree without disrespecting. We may correct without condemning. We may stand firmly for truth without losing charity. Because when society tells us to choose sides, Jesus asks us first to choose love.