In his Christmas encyclical, His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Huși emphasized that the commandment to love one’s enemies is the ultimate test of genuine communion with God. His message highlighted the lack of love in today’s society and the transformative power of Christ’s love.
A World Lacking Love
At the start of his pastoral letter, Bishop Ignatie reflected on the absence of love in modern society: “What can be said with certainty is that in the world we live in and of which we are a part, we are witnessing a deficit of love.”
He pointed out that the fire of love brought by Christ through His birth is often extinguished by hatred, contempt, envy, revenge, and slander, fueled by selfishness and excessive self-concern.
The Call to Love Enemies
Bishop Ignatie stressed that the current state of the world, where love is increasingly scarce, stems from neglecting the commandment to love enemies:
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.“ (Luke 6:27-29)
He reminded believers that God’s love is unconditional: “God loves us even when we do not deserve it. He allowed Himself to be crucified for us at the height of humanity’s hatred. In the torrential rain of contempt and the calumny that sought to kill God, Christ, the Incarnate Divine Love, gave His life to fill the world with love and goodness.”
The Challenge of Love
Bishop Ignatie acknowledged that loving enemies requires great inner struggle and effort: “It often seems so difficult to love our enemies that we consider it impossible to put into practice.”
He explained that this difficulty arises because many are not filled with the love of Christ: “If you love your enemies, you are alongside God,“ he quoted Saint John Chrysostom.
He also compared love for Christ to the state of being in love: “Nothing is more important than the beloved person; no one deserves forgiveness more, no matter how terribly they have wronged you.”
The True Message of Christmas
Concluding his letter, Bishop Ignatie reminded the faithful of the central message of Christmas:
“The Son of God is born as Man from the Most Holy Mother of God to make us partakers of His concrete love, which heals the wounds of sin and gives us the power to love as He loves.”
Photo: Diocese of Huși
