By Pastor Al Trucano
Each of us is encouraged in our faith when we reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ. St. Paul emphasized this in a passage from Proverbs 25:21, 22. “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
I have to admit this is one of the most difficult passages to deal with in this day of terrorism. Initially, we want to get even with those who do evil to us, we want to keep armed and ready for action or take them to court and sue them for a fortune.
I have wondered what hatred and spite can do to each of us. Maybe this is why we suffer from ill health and sleepless nights. St. Paul closes this with the words, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
These are strange words, coming from a man who was punished for his faith and spent much of his life in jail. How could he make such a statement? It is because of the Holy Spirit. We are not our own. We belong to God, who forgave by way of the Cross. Forgiveness begins in you and me.