5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER B
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THE ENEMY AT THE
GATES
A young church worker came home
to an unexpected and shocking sight – his father in the kitchen cooking the
evening meal. This father has abandoned his family some years ago to pursue
another woman, plunging the family into despair and destitution. The young man
sought out his mother to explain why she received his father back. The mother
calmly reminded the young man that his father was broke and repentant and though
she herself was never active in church, she could not help but welcome her
husband with a forgiving and compassionate heart. The young man turned away in
shame, tears trickling down his cheeks.
The Resurrection of Jesus had a
powerful impact on many people, but not all of them his disciples or believers.
The shadow of this great event touched even the hardest of hearts, Saul among
them, who was once the most feared persecutor of the Jerusalem Christians. It must
have been difficult for the Christians at first. The first reading (Acts 9)
says that the Christians were still afraid of him, unsure of his alleged
conversion to the faith.
Barnabas took charge of Saul and
brought him to the apostles guaranteeing his genuine change of heart, his
dramatic metanoia. The apostles
received Saul, extending to him hands of forgiveness, reconciliation and
brotherhood. The other believers slowly accepted Saul, and in fact, delivered
him from death by securing his escape from those who plotted his death.
At his Death and Resurrection, Jesus
not only forgave his enemies and gave them the chance of a new life. He also
modelled for his disciples how to deal with enemies, haters, bashers, and
unpleasant people. No fierce retaliation, no harsh condemnation, no rude
rejection. Jesus’ only response was forgiveness, mercy, and joyful hope for the
return of the prodigal. True enough, the Risen Christ became a magnet for
sinners to come home to the Father’s embrace, and for skeptics and doubters to
believe in the power of love and service. Feeling this attraction, Saul the enemy
of Christians became Paul the greatest apostle to the nations.
Maybe, just maybe, this season of
Easter calls us to receive back people who have once deserted us, to forgive
those who hurt us most, to forget the offenses done to us, and to move on from
the pain towards healing. This week, let us remember the people who became our
enemies and pray that the Lord in his power grant us reconciliation, peace and
friendship in Christ. Let us also remember how we have become estranged from
others through our own fault and sincerely repent of our actions so that we can
emerge as people with a new heart.
