24. Is it not enough if we do not revenge ourselves on our enemies?
No; God commands us to love our enemies—i.e., to wish them well, and to be ready to assist them in their necessities, as much as lies in our power.
'Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you; that you may be the children of your Father who is in Heaven, who maketh His sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust ' (Matt. v. 44, 45).—Example: St. Stephen.
25. Why must we love our enemies?
1. Because the Lord our God commands us to love them; 2. Because Christ Jesus, our Divine Model, has given us the example of loving our enemies; and 3. Because we also wish to be forgiven by God.
1, 'But I say to you, Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you,' etc. (Matt. v.). 2. Jesus addressed even His betrayer in the kindest manner, saying: 'Friend, whereto art thou come?' (Matt. xxvi. 50), and he prayed on the Cross for His murderers: 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do' (Luke xxiii. 34). 3. 'Forgive us our trespasses, as we,' etc. Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matt, xviii. 23-35).
26. What has he to expect who will not forgive him by whom he has been offended?
Judgment without mercy.
'Judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy' (James ii. 13). 'But if you will not forgive, neither will your Father that is in Heaven forgive you your sins' (Mark xi. 26).
27. What must we do when we have offended some one?
We must go and be reconciled to him (Matt. v. 23, 24).
28. What must we do when some one has offended us?
We must willingly offer to make peace with him, forgive him from our heart, and suffer injustice rather than return evil for evil.
'To no man render evil for evil. If it be possible, as much as is in you, have peace with all men. Revenge not yourselves,
