Common Grounds
The Evangelical Pope | Love Conquers Sin
Living Words from John Paul II
Edited by Abraham A. van Kempen
Published May 15, 2022
Each week we let Saint Pope John Paul II share meaningful signposts to spark socio-economic resolves through justice and righteousness combined with mercy and compassion; in short, love.
43-47 [Jesus says:] "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.'
I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies.
Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.
This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.
If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that.
Do you expect a medal if you simply say hello to those who greet you?
Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that."
__ Matthew 5: 43-47 (Message Translation MSG)
Saint Peter's Basilica, The Vatican, 30 November 1980 | Humanity will only become more human if we mold forgiveness into its moral face.
Forgiveness, which is present in the world, confirms that love is more vital than sin. Forgiveness is the first condition for reconciliation in God's relations with humankind and how people relate to each other.
A world without forgiveness would be a world of cold and irreverent justice, in the name of which each would assert their rights over the other.
Selfishness that slumbers in human society could turn into a system of oppression of the weakest by the strongest, a struggle of one against the other.
Excerpted from:
IOANNES PAULUS PP. II, DIVES IN MISERICORDIA, Saint Peter's Basilica, The Vatican, 30 November 1980
Read more: Abu Akleh’s brother slams police ‘brutal force’ at funeral, expresses hope for peace
LATEST OPEN LETTERS
- 13-02World Peace
- 05-12My scream to the world
- 16-11To Syria and Bashar al-Assad
- 16-11To Palestine
- 24-10Japan should withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN), WHO's controlling parent body, to protect the basic human rights and lives of its citizens.
- 09-08Open Letter to António Guterres: Will the UN Protect Our Rights and End Our Suffering?
- 09-06Urgent Appeal
- 07-05Protect Our Great Earth And Nation!
- 09-03Peace And Love!
- 06-02Non military defence of Ukraine
Latest Blog Articles
- 02-05Our Friday News Analysis | What the World Reads Now!
- 01-05Our Wednesday News Analysis | How an 'antisemitism hoax' drowned out the discovery of mass graves in Gaza
- 30-04The Rafah invasion will be catastrophic
- 30-04Craig Murray: Worse Than You Can Imagine
- 30-04How an 'antisemitism hoax' drowned out the discovery of mass graves in Gaza
- 29-04The Evangelical Pope | Strive to Be YOU!
- 25-04Our Friday News Analysis | What the World Reads Now!
- 24-04Our Wednesday News Analysis | Israel’s Genocide in Gaza Is a World Historical Crime
- 23-04From Namibia to Gaza With Love
- 22-04The Evangelical Pope | Salt and Light
- 18-04Our Friday News Analysis | What the World Reads Now!