Loving enemies shows Love for all

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary encourage us to act in the best interests of the other. The passage from First Kings presents the consequence of the sin of the murder of Naboth to Ahab. Friar Jude Winkler tells us that the Northern Kingdom of Israel was not stable at the time of Ahab. Kings would be disposed if they were seen to have been condemned by prophets like Elijah. The response of God to the injustice done by Ahab and his subsequent repentance was to defer the consequences in the best interests of all the people. The Gospel of Matthew declares as part of the Sermon on the Mount a new law for the people concerning the treatment of enemies. Jesus, Friar Jude points out, is taking Divine prerogative as the Law Maker as He commands that the people love their enemies. He asks us to consider that both good and evil people are sustained with the sun and rain. God shows no preference in love for the "good". Acting in the best interests of all the others, those who love and cherish us and those who offer us rejection and distain, is the perfection in love of God. It is our challenge to be witness to that perfect love so that the truth of the love of God for all my be seen.