VII SUNDAY: (I Sm 26 2:7-9, 12-13, 22-23; I Cor 15:45-49; Lk 6:27-38)

The first Reading from the book of Samuel shows the extraordinary example of magnanimity given by David.  David had a golden chance to do away with his enemy, King Saul. But David refused to have Saul killed because Saul had been “anointed” king of Israel by Yahweh. With one of his commandants David sneaked into Saul’s camp and took the spear and pitcher of water from beside the king. In those days, revenge was considered sacred, and to spare one’s own enemy was considered both foolish and dangerous. David’s generosity was something totally out of the ordinary in his time.

In the Gospels Jesus gives a firm command to his disciples “Love your enemies and do good.”

It was something strange to the listeners of Jesus, because the Law of Moses established in case of offences received was that the revenge should not exceed the offence.

“Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, .. (Ex.21:24) Jesus knew how difficult it would be for his listeners to accept it. 

There are people in this world who are specifically told to hate people of other religions. Hate them, not because they behaved badly towards you but because they are people of other religions. That is the only reason. You may probably say, oh that is not true. Every religion is a way to God and every religion contains goodness and truth. Well, I want to draw your attention to what Islam teaches.

 

The Quran teaches NOT to LOVE ANYONE OTHER THAN A MUSLIM: Islam is the only Religion that mandates its followers to love only Muslims and hate non-Muslims. Allah would have no relation with those who take disbelievers in Islam as friends. Here is the quote from Quran.

. “The believers (ie. Muslims) must not take the disbelievers [Jews and Christians] as friends instead of the believers. And whoever does that has no relation with Allah whatsoever, unless you (do so) as a protective measure (in order to) save yourself from them. (Quran 3:28-Mufti Taqi Usmani).

“…saving yourselves from them by speaking in a friendly way towards them, while your hearts dislike[s] this”.  This is the commentary on the Quran 3: 28. This means that a Muslim has to pretend that he is friendly but hate you in their hearts.

Muhammad said: “Those who follow Allah are harsh towards the disbelievers and compassionate towards each other. …. “. (Q.48:29 — Abdul Haleem)

“O you who believe, do not take the Jews and the Christians for intimate friends. They are friends to each other. Whoever takes them as intimate friends is one of them.” (Quran 5:51-— Mufti Taqi Usmani)

Allah stirred up enmity and hatred among Jews and Christians until the Day of Resurrection. (Quran 5:14-— Abdul Haleem)

Fight them until there is no more persecution, and worship is devoted to God…”Quran 2:193.  — Abdul Haleem

Quran even says the Christians and Jews are worst of creatures. Quran 98:6- Sahih International:

Muhammad told the Muslims not to greet the Christians and Jews. ”Do not greet the Jews and the Christians before they greet you and when you meet any one of them on the roads force him to go to the narrowest part of it”. (Sahih Muslim 2167 a, Bk. 39, H.16)

Wish good only for Muslims: Muhammad said, "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself” (Bukhari 13, Bk.2, H.6).

Allah tells the heavenly angels to hate Christians and Jews: He said when Allah hates a person, he tells the angel Gabriel to also hate them. Then Gabriel hates that person and calls out to the people of heaven and tells them to also hate that person, and then that person is hated in heaven and on earth (so the hate is spread around): Sahih Muslim 32:6373 (6705).

Muhammad cursed Christians and Jews on his deathbed:  Bukhari 56:660 (3453); Sahih Muslim 4:1082 (1187)

Those who have faith fight in the way of Allah, while those who disbelieve fight in the way of Satan. Fight, then, against the fellows of Satan. Surely Satan's strategy is weak. (Q.4:76- Tafheem-ul-Quran - Abul Ala Maududi

So, fight in the way of Allah. You are not responsible but for yourself, and persuade the believers (to fight in Allah’s way). It is likely that Allah will prevent the mischief of those who disbelieve. Allah is the strongest in power and the mightiest in punishing. 4:84-  Mufti Taqi Usmani

Allah cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, the Jews and Christians. Quran (3:151) —

"You (true Muslims) are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind." means, the best of peoples for the people, as you bring them with chains on their necks till they embrace Islam. (Bukhari 4557, Book 65, Hadith 79]

 

These teachings cannot be from a only true God. Because if God is the creator of all, He is the father of all, He cannot give order to kill His own children if he/she is on the wrong way or even in sin or do not even believe in Him. Jesus said your heavenly father makes sun shine on the good and bad alike. Therefore, this is from devil. Because Jesus said, the devil comes to steal and Kill. He is a liar from the very beginning. Judging by this verse of Jesus, Islam is from evil. But the Muslims are not to be hated, because they are victims of devil. They happened to be in and most of them forced to be converted and once they are in they cannot go out if it, as it is forbidden by death penalty. So, have pity on them and pray for their conversion. One of the intentions of my every day Mass is Lord convert at least a 100 Muslims today to believe in the true God.

There are some Afghan families are rehabilitated into our area. If you happen to them, reach out to them. Of course they won’t know your language now, but gradually make them aware what they are into. Make them realize they are on the way to destruction. It is very difficult to travel to a foreign country and speak to them about Christ, but once they are in our neighborhood, it is much easier.

 

 

In his final commandment to his apostles Jesus said, “Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another” (Jn 15:12). Another good reason for us to forgive our enemies is, “(so that everyone will know that we are his disciples” (Jn 13:34-35). Thus, Christian forgiveness can be a form of evangelization.

What makes Christianity distinct from any other religion is the quality known as grace, i.e., God’s own life working in us, so that we are able to treat others, not as they deserve but with love, kindness and mercy. Therefore, we need to be Christians, filled with grace, ready to love and forgive those who hate us.