The resolution to this question lies in the distinction between natural love and supernatural love. We can love our neighbour solely for himself, or because of the services that he provides for us. Such a love will not exist when the neighbour is obnoxious or hurts us in some way. This is not Christian love at all, but exists on a purely natural love. However, we can also love our neighbour for the love of God. This is the theological virtue of charity, the same virtue with which we love God Himself. Consequently this supernatural love does not depend upon a person’s individual qualities nor is it hindered by the evil and injustice that he could do towards us. To the contrary, it is entirely motivated by the relationship that a person either has or could have with God. He is, or potentially could be, a child of God, a member of Jesus Christ, an heir to heaven.

 

THE PRECEPT

 

But how do we acquire such a supernatural love of our neighbour? The simple answer is that we are commanded to do so by Our Lord, and that consequently, it is our obligation to do so. Our Lord was very explicit about this in his sermon on the mountain: “You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thy enemy. But I say to you; Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you” (Mt 5:43,33). St. John is no less explicit in maintaining this connection between the love of God and of our neighbour, and that this love does not depend upon the particular qualities of our neighbour: “If any man say: I love God and hateth his brother: he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not?” (I Jn 4:20).

 

This obligation of fraternal charity does not stop on account of the evil a person may do or try to do against us.  Our Lord commands the forgiveness of such a person as an obligation in charity: “Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith to him: I say not to thee till seven times; but till seventy times seven times” (Mt 18:21,22). Likewise, he makes it an obligation to be reconciled with one’s brother before offering one’s gift at the altar (Mt 5:24) and teaches the obligation of forgiving the neighbour who has offended us by some kind of evil: “But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences” (Mt 6:15).

 

 

IMITATION OF CHRIST 

 

But knowing the obligation is not sufficient to accomplish it. We all have a natural repugnance at charity towards a person who has offended, insulted or hurt us in some way. How are we going to overcome this difficulty and so love him as Christ commands? It is only by the imitation of Christ, who loved us from the cross when we were yet in our sins, as St. Paul teaches: “Even when we were dead in sins” God “hath quickened us together in Christ, by whose grace you are saved” (Eph 2:5). This is the whole meaning of the new commandment of love, which Our Lord left to us after the Last Supper: “A new commandment I give unto you: that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (Jn 13:34).

 

It is Christ’s example from the cross which shows us the way to practice this fraternal charity. It is first of all one of profound humility, as St. Paul teaches: “Let nothing be done through contention, neither by vain glory; but in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves: each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are other men’s. For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:3-5).  It is this humility which enables us to overcome all rash judgments, all natural antipathies, and to overcome all rivalries, bitter words, ridicule, sarcasm, contempt for others. For so much that we perceive as evil is not really such, but falsely judged as such due to our proud presumption, when in reality it is only a difference of opinion, or a different way of looking at things, or a misunderstanding permitted by Divine Providence.

 

The humble man will listen to the words of St. Ignatius: “Every good Christian ought to be more willing to give a good interpretation to the statement of another than to condemn it as false”.

 

Secondly, it is to share the great compassion that Our Divine Savior had on the weaknesses and failings of others. Like Christ, Our Lord, we must be willing to make real and costly sacrifices for others, who are frequently, sinners, misled and overcome by many faults. Was not Our Lord a friend of sinners, who have need of a physician because they are spiritually ill, and did He not say: “For I have not come to call the just, but sinners” (Mt 9:13).  St. James expresses this compassion for sinners, which enables us to bear with them in patience, by ending his epistle with these words: “He who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins” (5:20).

Zeal for the salvation of souls who might be annoying obnoxious towards us is consequently inseparable from the imitation of Christ.

 

Thirdly, it is the willingness to bear all kinds of insults and evils for the love of others. This is precisely what Our Lord bore on the cross, crucified for our sins and surrounded by mockeries, and what was his response: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34).

 

This aspect of the imitation of Christ is so important to St. Ignatius that in his meditation on the call of Christ the King, which  begins the imitation of Christ, he places this prayer on our lips: “It is my wish and desire, and my deliberate choice, provided only that it be for Thy greater service and praise, to imitate Thee in bearing all injuries, all evils and all poverty, both physical and spiritual”. Here lies the source of perfection in our love of our neighbour, that is of those who are often our enemies, because we are willing to bear all manner of insults, humilitations and poverty from him and we will do so without reacting, becoming angry, revengeful or bitter, but together with the Apostles always “rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus” (Act 5:41).