The Radical Call to Mercy: Loving as Christ Loves

The following was a homily that Fr. Wainio preached on the seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (Sunday, February 23rd, 2025)

The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel are some of the most radical and challenging in all of Scripture. Love your enemies? Pray for those who mistreat you? Show mercy even when none is given to you? These are not easy commands. They go against our instincts, our emotions, and often the very fabric of how the world operates.

But these words are not just an ideal or a lofty aspiration. They are a call to action, a call to live in a way that transforms the world through the power of Christ’s love.

As we look around us, we see so many situations where love and mercy are needed. There are conflicts in families, strained friendships, and divisions within our communities. Many people are burdened with personal struggles, whether it be grief, illness, or feelings of loneliness. Beyond our immediate circles, we also see tensions rising in society—anger, injustice, and hostility playing out in public discourse, in our streets, and even within our institutions.

Yet, Jesus tells us: Love your enemies.

This command is not about passivity or weakness. It is about choosing to respond with the same love that God has shown to us. It is about breaking cycles of hatred and revenge by choosing a different path—the path of mercy.

We all encounter moments in our lives where we feel wronged, misunderstood, or hurt. It is in these moments that we are called to respond with mercy. When a family member offends us, when a coworker treats us unfairly, or when a friend lets us down—these are opportunities to extend the love that Christ speaks of in today’s Gospel.

On a larger scale, we see struggles for fairness and dignity taking place in various parts of our nation. Whether it is the treatment of the marginalized, the dignity of human life, or the way people are judged based on differences, Christ’s words challenge us to respond not with anger or vengeance but with a commitment to justice that is rooted in love. Mercy does not mean ignoring wrongdoing, but it does mean responding with a heart open to forgiveness and healing. When we choose mercy, we allow God's grace to work through us, bringing about reconciliation and peace.

So how do we put this into practice? How do we live out these words of Christ in our everyday lives?

1. Pray for those who challenge us. When we struggle with someone—whether a colleague, a neighbor, or even a family member—pray for them. Not just that they change, but that God blesses them and works in their heart, as well as in our own.

2. Respond with kindness, not retaliation. When someone insults or wrongs us, we have a choice: to retaliate with anger or to respond with grace. Jesus calls us to take the higher road, not because it is easy, but because it is holy.

3. Be generous without expecting anything in return. Whether it is our time, our resources, or our patience, we are called to give freely, just as God gives to us.

4. Advocate for peace and reconciliation. This applies not only on a personal level but in our communities and beyond. Stand up for justice, but do so with love. Speak truth, but do so with compassion.

   
   

Jesus’ teaching in today’s Gospel is difficult. But it is not impossible. He calls us to love beyond our comfort zone, to show mercy when it feels undeserved, and to trust that by doing so, we reflect the very heart of God.

And here’s the promise: "Give, and it will be given to you... For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." The mercy we show, the love we give, the kindness we extend—it will not go unnoticed by God.

So this week, let’s ask ourselves: Who in my life do I need to forgive? Where can I choose mercy instead of judgment? How can I be a witness of Christ’s love in a world so desperately in need of it?

May we find the strength to love as Christ loves, to forgive as He forgives, and to be merciful, just as our Father in heaven is merciful.

Peace,