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Sunday Angelus
Vatican City, 18th February 2007 (CNA).- Pope
Benedict XVI's weekly Angelus address focused on some of "the strongest
words of Jesus: 'Love your enemies.'" According to the Holy Father, this
teaching amounts to a "manifesto presented to all, to which He demands
adherence on behalf of all His disciples."
But, Pope Benedict asked, what is the meaning
of this command? Loving one's enemies is "a love that exceeds human
capacity," but is reasonable because "there is too much violence and too
much injustice in the world." Thus, man needs to show more love and more
goodness in order to overcome these evils. And, the Holy Father added, "This
'more,'” comes directly from God, “it is His mercy that was made flesh in
Jesus."
Calling this Gospel teaching the "Magna Carta"
of Christian nonviolence, the Holy Father warned against "a false
interpretation of 'turning the other cheek'" that "consists of surrendering
to evil." Instead, man must "respond to evil with good, thus breaking the
cycle of injustice."
Benedict emphasized that all Christians must
"be so convinced of the love of God and His power that they are not afraid
to confront evil armed only with love and truth." The Christian "Love
Revolution" is not based upon human agents or resources, but "is a gift from
God that one obtains by trusting solely and without reserve in His merciful
goodness."
The Pope closed his address by invoking the
Prayers of the Virgin Mary, "that she may help us to allow ourselves to be
conquered by this love and to learn to love as He has loved us."
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