Jesus called his commandment to love new simply because loving one another, even enemies, was not a priority for the people of his era, and has not been for our world over the last two thousand years, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald. The way of non-violence, of compassion, reconciliation, forgiveness and love is new, simply because we have been unable to embrace it. At a time when world leaders have at their disposal technology and weaponry sufficiently powerful to obliterate us all, the need to imitate the love of Christ is more urgent than ever. Accepting Jesus’ new commandment will come at a price, and will certainly be countercultural.

On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, as we gather for and participate in worship, as we reflect on Jesus as shepherd and as ourselves as dear to him, we will very likely sing a version of Psalm, 23 The Lord is my shepherd…” probably the most memorised text of the entire Bible, after the Lord’s Prayer, reflects Br Julian McDonald CFC.. Psalm 23 initially looks like an idyllic, pastoral prayer of trust and confidence in God as shepherd. But then comes mention of valleys filled with darkness and the shadows of death. The “sheep” in the psalm trust in God’s providence, but still have eyes wide open to the dangers that they risk as they travel the way of justice and righteousness.

In today’s gospel-reading, Luke illustrates, through the parable of the fig tree, how Jesus explained that change of mind and heart does not happen in an instant or as the result of a sudden moment of inspiration. Rather, it generally happens over time, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

The Transfiguration event set the stage for the death and resurrection of Jesus that would give to all of humankind something of the light that Peter, James, John, and Jesus, too, experienced on the mountain, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald..

A good place to begin venturing into what Jesus is calling us to consider in loving our enemies is to be found in the opening verses of today’s gospel-reading: “Pray for those who treat you badly” (Luke 6, 28). Our first inclination may well be to set about planning how to even the score. To move into the territory of praying for those who treat us badly is not about asking God to help them see things as we see them. Surely it’s more about opening ourselves up to begin seeing others as God sees them - people worthy of compassion, love, forgiveness and mercy. And isn’t that precisely how God sees us?