Tuesday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time (Year II)
Micah 7:14-15,18-20 | Psalm 84:2-8 | Matthew 12:46-50
Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’ (Matthew 12:48-50)
As Catholics, we’ve always been taught to “hate the sin, love the sinner”, so is it even possible for the faithful to have enemies?
Yes, and more than you might think.
Satan is of course on that list. Along with his minions, he perverts our lives and causes us to doubt our belief in God. He’s Catholic Enemy #1, to be sure.
But the Devil doesn’t act alone. In fact, he usually relies on human agency to spread his message of fear, uncertainty and doubt. Anyone who actively, knowingly and unreservedly battles Christ’s message of love for God and compassion for each other, rebuffing all attempts to draw him back to the path of mercy, is therefore our enemy.
Which, sadly, makes too many fellow Catholics our enemies, like:
- The bosses who lord their position, riches and other advantages over others.
- The co-workers who regularly scheme over promotions and dump their own work on others.
- The church-goers who poison the well of Christian community with anonymous complaints and barbed put-downs against one and all.
I don’t have an easy answer to this, so I’m putting this out for discussion in the comments below: How do you deal with un-Christian Catholics?
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray:
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.