This week, we move on in our Lenten series on the Anglican Homilies to look at the Homily on Christian “charity” or love.
The Homily begins by saying we must love God with all our heart and all our soul, and love our neighbours as ourselves. This is commanded in the Bible, and was exemplified for us in Jesus himself.
But what is distinctive about Christian love, as opposed to any other kind of love or that demonstrated by other kinds of people? Here, the Homily makes an arresting suggestion. It says:
“But the perverse nature of mankind, corrupt with sin, and destitute of God’s word and grace, thinks it against all reason that someone should love their enemy, and has many persuasions which induce them to the contrary. Against all which reasons we ought to set the teaching as well as the living of our saviour Christ, who loving us (when we were his enemies) teaches us to love our enemies. He did patiently take many reproaches for us, suffered beating and most cruel death. Therefore we are not members of him if we will not follow him. Christ (says St. Peter) suffered for us, leaving an example, that we should follow him.
Furthermore, we must consider, that to love our friends is no more than that which thieves, adulterers, murderers, and all wicked persons do. In so much that Jews, Muslims, Infidels, and all brute beasts do love those who are their friends, of whom they have their living, or any other benefits. But to love enemies is the proper condition only of those who are the children of God, the disciples and followers of Christ.”