Jesus proposes an ethics that is quite radical, it goes beyond all calculations. The Father's love and mercy to us is our ultimate criteria for behaviour. "Be merciful (compassionate) even as your Father is merciful (compassionate). Lk 6:36 It is an emphatic command, even as "love one another even as I have loved you."

It is only when we struggle to make our enemy our brother or sister, that we really succeed in loving our enemies. The demands of Jesus' agape is greater than the most indispensable thing as honour and clothing to which all have a right. Love of oneself is not the standard. True love is one of active love and concern for the other.

Love is the basis of all we say and do. We do not know another person or a situation well because we do not want to know. Therefore we tend to justify our stance towards and criticism of them. Self-forgetfulness is necessary for not judging others. Just as we ourselves have grown with the support and care of others so too we extend that very concern towards others.

St Paul maps out the ideal of Christian living. A thanksgiving, a daily Eucharist. It is the supreme advantage of knowing Christ and making God's will our own.