A certain monk was praying under a tree beside a river. As he prayed, the tide was coming and the river was rising. Then he noticed a scorpion at the foot of the tree struggling for dear life as the surging waves tried to drown him. The monk stretched out his hand to pull the scorpion to safety, but each time his hand came near, the scorpion tried to sting him. A passerby saw what was going on and said to the monk: “What are you doing? Don’t you know that it is in the nature of a scorpion to sting?” “Yes,” replied the monk, “And it is in my nature to save. Must I change my nature because the scorpion refuses to change his?”

This story relates well to what Jesus is talking about in the gospel this Sunday. He challenges us to do the opposite of what our human nature tends to do. Our human nature says that if we are hurt, we have to hurt that person too. If he/she was unkind, why should we be unkind to him/her? A typical principle of “an eye for an eye” and “a tooth for a tooth”. But Jesus revolutionized that principle by introducing new approach. He said:

“Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. Give to everyone who asks of you. Lend them money expecting nothing back. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Do to others, as you would have them do to you.”

Now if we take a look at each one of them, they are not easy. For instance, how can you love your enemies and still be good if they do harm to you or pray if they mistreat you. Or to be merciful when they are not merciful to you. These are hard to do and against our human nature, but this is what it means to be a true follower of Him. His grace will help us to do what we think is impossible as St. Paul attested, “His grace is sufficient for me. His power is perfected in my weaknesses.” (2Cor. 12:9)

When God and His grace is in us, He helps us to do good even to those whom others think are hard and impossible. That is God working in us.