In the Gospel reading we are enjoined to love our enemies. To truly follow God’s commandment of love, we cannot love only those easy to love – our parents and family, our friends and benefactors. These people have shown love for us: “If you love those who love you, what is special about that? Do not even tax collectors do as much?”
Jesus’ commandment tells us to take the extra step, to walk the extra mile, to go beyond our comfort zones: to love those difficult to love, our enemies, those who annoy, hurt and persecute us.
And there are also those neglected by society and are victims of social indifference, the poor, the sick, the underprivileged
British novelist C.S. Lewis said, “God loves us not because we are lovable but because He is love.”
When Jesus told us to love our neighbor, he meant that we be a good neighbor to each and everyone. We cannot afford to choose whom to love and how to love. We can only choose to follow the example of Jesus: “See how God manifested his love for us; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us and we have become just through his blood. Once enemies we have been reconciled with God through the death of his Son.” (Rom 8: 8-10)