Last week we heard the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain from Luke’s Gospel—Our Lord’s instruction on how to live a blessed life—not living for wealth, fame, or sensual pleasure, but weeping for one’s sins and being willing to endure suffering for the spread of the Good News. This week’s Gospel continues his sermon and contains one of the most

sacred, inspiring, and perhaps annoying and puzzling texts in the whole New Testament: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” The Lord teaches not just tolerance for one’s enemy, not just vague acceptance, but love.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a chance to visit my family for the Tet holidays or Lunar New Year. During my trip home, I enjoyed Tet and spending time with my big family. Our Tet is like a week-long Thanksgiving with lots of gatherings, reunions, and parties. I was so grateful that I was able to be there with my family and for them.

During my time in Vietnam, I also had an opportunity to celebrate the memorial Mass of my dad’s second anniversary of death. Before Tet, together with my extended family, I visited the cemetery where our ancestors, including my dad, rest. We had Mass for them there. It was a special celebration when my whole family came together to pray, honor, and remember our deceased loved ones who have gone before us. I prayed for everybody there and for my dad in a very special way.

Forgive me when I am wordy here, but Jesus’ message this weekend inspires me to share a little more about my dad’s story. He was one of 12 children of my grandparents. At age 10, he lost his father because of persecution against landlords, especially Christian landlords, during the 1954-1956 Land Reform in North Vietnam. In his passion and execution, my grandfather was falsely accused by many people, including one of his maids, in a people’s court set up by the communists. And perhaps, my dad would never forget and forgive that maid. However, what happened almost 62 years later was so amazing and inspiring. In 2017, one of that maid’s grandchildren wanted to get married to my little brother or my dad’s

youngest son. How on earth could my dad accept this marriage? How on earth could he allow his son to get married to the offspring of the person who caused his father to a violent death? Yet, he consented and blessed the marriage between his youngest son and her granddaughter. Because he believed that only forgiveness could heal him and free him from the

slavery of hatred and resentment. Only forgiveness could allow him to live his Christian faith and love to the fullest. My dad won his in-laws back and had a great relationship with them till his passing away two years ago.

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”. This is a tough teaching from Jesus, but the practice of loving our enemies is at the heart of the Christian faith. And as we learn to love our enemies, there will never be any greater demonstration of the Christian faith in society. There will never be

any greater demonstration of God at work in our lives. I know, yes, I know for sure that there is at least one person who fully demonstrated that teaching.