e are a Roman Catholic community of believers in Jesus Christ in Lincoln Park and surrounding areas, located in the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey. Our Bishop is Bishop Arthur Serratelli. Please feel free to visit the pages of our Parish site, learn about who we are as a community of faith and the services our parish provides. If you are thinking about moving to the Lincoln Park area, we cordially invite you to make St. Joseph's your parish.
The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: February 23, 2020
Today, we continue with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount from Mt 5:38-48 dealing with love of enemies. We hear Jesus acting in the role of a new Moses. He builds on the commandments of old but he commands us to go deeper, forbidding retaliation, and commanding one’s love of one’s enemies.
Old Middle Eastern culture was built on honor and shame. When someone’s honor was threatened, they would retaliate, usually stopping with insults before going further. The laws of the Old Testament regulated society so that it didn't end up in bloody triable conflict all the time. It was meant to limit acts of revenge by making sure the punishment was not excessive but fit the crime.
Jesus asks his followers to take a different approach. He urges his disciples not to retaliate. Rather, we are to offer no resistance. Hand over our possessions, go the extra mile. Instead of hating our enemies, we are to love them. We are to pray for our persecutors.
There is nothing in the bible commanding us to hate our enemies. The definitions of love and hate were really about attachment and indifference.
You were attached to those in your group. Outsiders were the others, detached. You were at best indifferent to them. But Jesus is now commanding us to treat as a member of our family or household the outsider, the potential enemy.
Matthew emphasizes that love of God and love of neighbor are the fundamental commands on which all else depend. Because God’s love is unconditional, we are to strive to love as God does, even though, it is challenging. Is it even possible?
