Our psalm response today says, "The Lord is kind and merciful." And, in our second reading we are reminded that although we, like the first Adam, are of the earth, we also need to bear the image of Jesus, the second Adam, the man from heaven. To accomplish this we need to imitate the compassion, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, and the love of Jesus.

This past Monday we celebrated President’s Day, honoring the two great presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

When Abraham Lincoln began his presidency, one of his most bitter opponents was Edwin McMasters Stanton, a former member of President Buchannan’s cabinet. Stanton absolutely despised Lincoln and was very vocal in his criticism of Lincoln, both personally, and of his administration. His dislike of Lincoln was such that he once called Lincoln "the original gorilla," and commented that a famed explorer of the day had been foolish to travel all the way to Africa to study gorillas, when he could have found one so easily in Springfield, Illinois.

About a year into his Presidency, Lincoln found it necessary to replace his Secretary of War. To the shock of his advisors and those closest to him, Lincoln appointed Edwin Statnton to this all-important position. In response to the objections of this appointment by his inner-circle, Lincoln was absolutely steadfast: "Yes, I know all those terrible things Mr. Stanton said about me, but I believe he is the best man for the job."

Edwin Stanton, who had been Lincoln’s most severe detractor and critic, went on to distinguish himself in his duties as Secretary of War during our country’s most troubled period of Civil War.

Three years later, near the end of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on Good Friday night in Ford’s theater. Upon hearing the news, Stanton rushed to Lincoln’s side and was with him when he died. Stanton said of the man he had once so vigorously ridiculed, "There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen. He now belongs to the ages."

It was because of Lincoln’s acknowledgement of Stanton’s talents and abilities that caused this former critic’s cynicism to change from hatred into trust and admiration.

Today’s Gospel challenges us to do precisely the opposite of what our human nature wants us to do; the principle of "an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth;" giving back according to what we receive. Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter, and says to us: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. Give to everyone who asks. Do good for your enemies; lend them money expecting nothing back. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging. Stop condemning. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured out into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.

How difficult it is to follow the lead of Jesus, to bear the image of the second Adam. It is so natural for us to pass judgment on others. We can all so easily act as judge, jury and executioner; and so often without even listening to the case of the one we judge. Yet, if we think and act in that way, we are, in fact, asking for the same treatment ourselves. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." In other words, God, forgive me to the extent that I am willing to forgive others. As Jesus said in the gospel, "…the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."

"Love your enemies," Jesus says. And he also said, "If we only love those who love us, what is so exceptional about that? If we only do good to those who do good to us, where is the virtue?" These are difficult words to hear, and difficult words to live. Yet, Jesus knew that the continued violence and hatred in the world could only be broken by one thing, and that is love. Not by love generated by emotion, but by a love which comes from a decision of our will; a love which is attained by the transformation of our will. It our having an attitude that seeks another’s good and responds to their need. We must say to ourselves, "even though I do not like you, I know that God loves you; and therefore, I, too, will also love you and relate to you in love."

We need to remember that God sends his rain upon the just and the unjust. He is kind, merciful and forgiving to the person who brings him joy, and equally so to the one who brings grief to his heart. God’s love embraces both saint and sinner alike. It is God’s love, which is kind, compassionate, merciful, forgiving, unconditional, and self-sacrificing – and it is that love we are called to imitate. God’s love does not deal in punishment as human vengeance does. God’s love disciplines us in order to free and purify us, so that we may not die but live in Christ. When we are able to seek even the well-being of our enemies, then, we are truly to be called Children of God.