Peter asked Jesus the following, "'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to thee seven times, but seventy times seven'" (Matthew 18:21-22). If anyone offends us and comes to ask our pardon, we must receive him kindly, and not be proud or unforgiving. If we offend any one, we should beg his pardon at once. "Do not let the sun go down upon your anger" (Ephesians 4:26). We are never sure of waking up again from sleep, therefore let us always be at peace in conscience by being at peace with all.

    When we are seriously injured, as in our property, honor, or reputation, we are not forbidden to claim our just rights before lawful authority. Often justice requires us to do this, in order to prevent greater abuses. Forgiveness of our enemy does not require intimate association. It is enough that we treat him with civility, and help him if he is in need.

    Love of enemies is a duty of nations, as well as of individuals. Nations should never go to war, except as a last resort, to protect themselves and their just rights; war must never be from motives of revenge. But cruelty in war is sinful. Soldiers must not treat brutally those who are disabled in battle; they must not attack non-combatants. Looting, raping and burning homes, schools, and churches are never condoned.

    These are some practical ways of loving our enemies: to respect their rights; to avoid uncharitable thoughts and words about them; to show good manners towards them; to do them a good turn whenever possible. We should be most careful not to form a habit of fault-finding or back-biting, however much we are provoked "See that no one renders evil for evil to any man; but always strive after good towards one another and towards all men" (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

    We should love our friends loyally, and in the sight of God. True friendship is always based on the love of God. If based on selfish or wrong motives, it is false friendship that results in ruin for those indulging in it. One who hates God can never make a true and good friend. Relations based on pleasure or selfish gain, or some evil purpose, cannot be termed friendship. Such relations, unlike true friendship, disappear or turn bitter with the advent of misfortune.

    For a model of true friendship we should take Our Lord's friendship for His apostles, and especially for His favorite apostles, John, Peter, and James. Other particular friends of Jesus were Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha.

    A sign of true friendship is the mutual support each gives to the other, the confidence each reposes in the other, the kindly correction each feels free to give the other. For example, Christ used to correct His dear friends, pointing out to them faults that needed correction for their betterment.

    We should look upon our true friends as one of our most precious possessions. As Holy Scripture says: "Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold or silver is able to equal the goodness of his fidelity" (Ecclesiastes. 6:15). "Blessed is he that findeth a true friend" (Ecclesiastes. 25:12). Such a friend adds to our happiness, and helps us in times of difficulties material and spiritual.

    We must, however, be careful in the choice of friends, making sure that those with whom we form friendships will be good for us. It is not advisable to adopt friends rashly or too quickly, on the spur of the moment, because of some temporary attraction or sympathy. How many people have been ruined on account of the company they have kept! We must never have as friends those who would destroy in us the friendship of God, by causing us to sin.

Next Issue: Works of Mercy part one

July 21-23, 2000
volume 11, no. 124
APPRECIATION OF THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF OUR FAITH series

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