The Gospel of this Sunday is Luke 6:17, 20–26
1. Hatred – What can be done about it?
Hatred coming from others is particularly painful for believers because the person living by faith lives with love for God and for people. Jesus gives us advice on what to do when we are met with hatred because of our faith in God.
2. Keywords
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.
So, for us, the most important thing is what God says to us, not what people say. St. Peter gives us a life-long indication: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts of the Apostles 5:29).
That is not easy at all. It’s very difficult. However, only this approach will give us peace of heart. This kind of peace is more than just a motto “Keep calm and carry on” that we can find written on mugs and other gadgets. Jesus says that if we have this attitude, we will be blessed.
In the original Greek, the word “makarioi” is used, which literally means happy. This is happiness that God gives, and that no one and nothing can take away.
3. Today
“Nothing they do will force me to hate them,” wrote Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, when he was imprisoned and persecuted by the communist authorities. Let us not allow hatred to creep into our hearts. When hatred comes our way, let us remember Jesus’ words and ask him to find peace of heart in these words.
