A homily on Luke 6:27-38 : The Touchstone of Christianity ( 11-9-25)

 A heartfelt reflection on Luke 6:27-38 about loving enemies as the true mark of a Christian. (11-9-25)

Praise be to Jesus Christ

Once in a forest, there was a huge elephant. One day it was walking towards the river to drink water.  However, on the way, a group of dogs began to bark and even tried to bite its legs. The elephant could have crushed them easily, but it did not stop, fight, or even mind the dogs. It kept walking calmly to the river.   Seeing this, a little sparrow asked its mother with great surprise, “Why is the mighty elephant not attacking the dogs?” The mother sparrow replied, “My child, the elephant knows its strength. If it fights with every barking dog, it will never reach the river.”

When I hear the Gospel today, this story comes to my mind. Jesus says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” These words are not easy. In fact, they go against our natural instincts. Our usual habit is to respond back the negativity in the same way or more intensely if possible. It implies to a custom of reaction to hurt who wounded us. If someone speaks badly against me, I must also speak badly about them. However, Jesus tells us not to fight with the barking dogs of this world. He asks us to keep walking, like the elephant, with dignity…with patience…and with love showing our real identity as Christians.

This is not weakness but indeed true strength. Anyone can hate and curse. But only a person who knows God can forgive and love in the face of hatred. This is the touchstone of Christianity. If we want to know whether we are real Christians, we need to look introspect and reflect: at the moments of negativity, how do I behave? And let us not look at how many rosaries we pray or how many devotions we keep in our daily lives. Instead, we should look at how much love and forgiveness we show to others, especially when it is most difficult.

The Old Testament gives us the story of Joseph. He was betrayed by his own brothers and sold into slavery. When he later became a ruler in Egypt, he could have punished them. Instead, he forgave and provided them food in their hunger. He chose love over revenge.

And at the centre of our faith Jesus resides. On the Cross, as nails pierced His hands and people mocked Him, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” This is the highest example of loving your enemies. He does not gave any hypocritic teaching. He lived it till the end.

In our own families, this Gospel becomes very real. Sometimes it is not an outsider who wounds us, but someone within the same roof. A husband and wife may quarrel. Brothers and sisters may stop speaking. Parents and children may carry bitterness in their hearts. We may think, “Why should I take the first step? Let them say sorry first.” But Jesus says, “You take the step. You forgive. You love.” That is what makes us different.

The saints also remind us of this path. Saint Francis prayed, “Where there is hatred, let me bring love.” Saint Teresa of Calcutta said, “If you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only love.” They did not allow the barking voices of insult and hatred to turn them away from the river of God’s peace. St. John Paul forgave Mehmet Ali Ağca his assassinator. 

So today, let us examine our lives based on this Gospel passage. Am I living a true Christina life? The answer is not in big actions but in small choices of each day: a kind word instead of anger, a blessing instead of a curse, a smile instead of bitterness. That is the touchstone of Christianity.

Lord, transform me as a CHRISTIAN. Amen