If You Hate Your Enemies, You Are Not Better Than Them

Friday, 19 January 2024. Read 1 Samuel 24:3-21, Ps. 57:2-4,6,11, Mark 3:13-19

“Saul lifted his voice and wept. He said to David, ‘You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.’” (1 Samuel 24:16-20)

With three thousand men, Saul went in search of David. When faced with Goliath’s threat, Saul hid in the palace (shaking with fear), but against David, Saul summoned the courage to attack. Unknown to Saul, he was attempting to fight God. In a strange twist, David had the chance to kill Saul in his sleep that night but refused. Our readings today contain a lot of lessons for our meditation.

1. Anointing Can Fail: Do you believe in the “Once saved, forever saved” doctrine? This is a lie that many Christians use to appease their conscience while they wallow in sin. You may have the gift of speaking in tongues, raising the dead, or seeing the future, but if you continue in the sinful practices that characterise the kingdom of darkness, your anointing can expire. Saul is a classic example of one whose disobedience reduced anointing to nothing. Many men of God started very well but have become shadows of themselves today. Be Careful. Work out your salvation in fear and trembling.

2. God’s Protection Supersedes All Human Protection: With three thousand trained soldiers, Saul was trying to use a gun to kill a fly. We tend to trust the latest security gadgets and weapons, but as we often see in the movies, not even the most advanced security systems in the world are tamper-free. If God is not on your side, forget it. Without fighting a single soldier, God delivered Saul into David’s hand. God’s protection is the best. As much as you try to be security conscious, ensure you live righteously.

3. If You Hate Your Enemies, You Have Become Like Them: Sometimes God tests us by putting our enemies in our hands. Revenge is not as sweet and glamorous as we see in the movies; killing your enemies makes no sense because it will not restore what they have taken away from you. If you treat your enemies the same way they treated you, it means you would have done worse if you were in their shoes? Jesus asked us: “If you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:47)

4. There is a Reward for Kindness Shown to Your Enemies: For sparing Saul’s life, David proved that he was greater than Saul. With a heart full of shame, Saul prayed for David: “So, may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, behold, I know you shall surely be king.” When you show kindness to your enemies, know that you are doing it for God, who will reward you. Do not assume that your kindness will change their attitude towards you (Saul would later continue his pursuit of David). Be good to them, for God’s sake.

5. Whatever Takes Your Time is What You Become: Nowadays, we spend a lot of time entertaining ourselves on social media apps, yet we complain about not having enough time for those things that add value to our lives. Whatever you desire to become tomorrow, make sure that is what occupies most of your time today; otherwise, you are just a dreamer. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus “appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out.” They needed to be with Jesus before they could be sent out; they needed to leave everything else and dedicate three full years to Jesus before they could go out. If we don’t give Jesus our time, we dare not say we know Him.

Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, teach me to love my enemies as myself. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of week 2 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1 Samuel 24:3-21, Ps. 57:2-4,6,11, Mark 3:13-19).

@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu