For years, King Saul had plotted to kill David, who continually escaped Saul’s attacks. Now, in today’s first reading and for the second time, David finds Saul in a very vulnerable position. How easy it would be for David to do unto Saul what Saul has been trying to do unto him. He could even use Saul’s own weapon against him. Yet David spares Saul’s life once again.

This episode from the First Book of Samuel illustrates Jesus’ teaching in today’s Gospel. He speaks of enemies – and contextually this would have meant “evil persons,” or anyone who opposes us in a harmful way. Though our enemies may hate, curse, or mistreat us, Jesus says, we are not to respond in kind. Rather than treating them as they treat us, Jesus says to bless and pray for them, to love and do good to them. Rather than judging and condemning, Jesus teaches us to be forgiving.

It is our hope that the hearts of our enemies are transformed by the love and kindness we share, and will come to treat us with the same love and kindness with which we treat them. Then also when we sin, they will show mercy and forgiveness in return, and not judge or condemn us. As Jesus teaches: the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

What Jesus teaches is easier said than done. We all have “enemies,” – in this same contextual understanding. Perhaps it is someone at work, in the neighborhood, or in our family. They have mistreated us, and our hurt, anger, or fear are real. Like David’s comrade, Abishai, we may be tempted to lash out at them when given the opportunity. How can we resist?

This is our challenge: to see others as God sees them. When Abishai and David come across Saul, Abishai sees an enemy, whereas David sees God’s anointed. David knows it is not for him, but for God, to judge Saul. Saul’s life is ultimately in God’s hands. David trusts that the Lord will reward each man for his justice and faithfulness.

Those the disciples see as enemies and sinners, Jesus sees as worthy of goodness and love. Jesus knows that God is merciful and kind, even to the ungrateful and the wicked. As Jesus teaches and David sings in his psalm: The Lord is kind and merciful … not according to our sins does he deal with us. Jesus’ standard applies not only to our treatment of others, but also to our treatment of ourselves.

We can be our own worst enemies, denying ourselves the kindness we willingly share with others, and judging ourselves most harshly of all. We must see ourselves as God sees us – worthy of mercy and goodness like any one of his children, and allow him to love us.

Ultimately, we are all in God’s hands, and there is no better place to be. He pours upon us a good measure – packed together, shaken down, and overflowing – of redeeming grace, through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son, as celebrated in the Eucharist. United with Christ we bear his heavenly image, and that is how God will always see and judge us.

(Fr. Michał Pająk, OMI, Feb. 23, 2025)