Daily Mass Gospel Reflection - Must Love Enemy

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 06-14-22 | Bishop Robert Barron

[MurphsLaw]

ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

MATTHEW 5:43-48

Friends, today, in the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord commands us to love our enemies.

What is the test of love?
Jesus couldn’t be clearer in the discourse he delivers the night before he died.
“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
If love is willing the good of the other as other, this has to be the fullest expression,
the final word, of love.

There is another way to test love: the love of enemies,
those who cannot or will not pay you back.
This also takes place in the cross of Jesus.
Jews, Romans, Pharisees, Sadducees, his own disciples—everyone betrays him,
runs from him, denies him, actively arranges for his death.
And yet these are the very people that he loves, the very people for whom he gives his life.

The final test is what Jesus does when he returns from the dead.
To the very people that contributed to his demise he says, “Shalom.”
This is how we are loved; this is how we must love.
Everything else is commentary.

[MurphsLaw]

+++Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
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.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”+++

[invoman]

Jesus said:

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s FRIENDS.”

Did he (the author of this article) just say there IS a greater love?

That you would lay down your life for your ENEMIES?

hmmm...

[invoman]

Maybe it could be said another way?

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Or did Jesus say:

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep AND THE GOATS.

???

[MurphsLaw]

Did he (the author of this article) just say this IS a greater love?

No.
You've jumbled it all up.
The author clearly states:

There is another way to test love: the love of enemies, those who cannot or will not pay you back.

So clearly the author is stating "another way" to test love- NOT that there is a "greater love", as you say-or better or stronger..
but just "another way" to test for it.

The second half of that sentence;

" those who cannot or will not pay you back.

This is clearly referencing today's Gospel verse where Christ says:

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

Which Christ clearly points out that it is easy to love those who love you... if you don’t love those back who love you = that's a problem... it's our neighbor we must also love. Ugh.

It follows along the lines of what the Bishop Fulton Sheen said...

"The real test of a Christian is not how much you love family or friends, but how much you love your enemies.

So I would say yes. while the latter, concerning enemies, is probably harder to accomplish than with friends, it requires the same love as well...
And even though you might hear someone say like- "I love you more"...
Qualification... Is not what the author was getting at here.