A Superior Love

Si diligitis eos qui vos diligunt, quam mercedem habetitis? Nonne et publicani hoc faciunt? Et si salutaveritis fratres vestros tantum: quid amplius facitis? Nonne et ethnici hoc faciunt? Estote ergo vos perfecti, sicut et Pater vester, qui in coelis est, perfectus est. Ostendit Dominus meritum nos perfectae dilectionis habere non posse, si eos tantum diligamus a quibus vicem nobis rependi dilectionis mutum noverimus, cum hujusmodi dilectionem etiam gentibus ac peccatoribus sciamus esse communem. Unde vult nos Dominus communem legem dilectionis humanae lege dilectionis evangelicae superare; ut non solum circa eos qui nos diligunt, sed etiam circa inimicos et odientes amoris nostri ostendamus affectum, ut verae pietatis ac bonitatis paternae in hoc imitemur exemplum. Sanctus Chromatius Aquileiensis, In Evangelium Sancti Matthaei, Tractatus XII Source: Migne PL 20.356b-c

If you love those who love you, what reward shall you have? Do the tax collectors not do this? And if you greet your brothers only, what great thing do you do? Do the pagans not do this? Be perfect as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.' 1  The Lord shows that we are not able to have the merit of perfect love, if we love only those from whom we know we shall receive a return of the love we give, when this same type of love we know to be common to pagans and sinners. Thus the Lord wishes that the Gospel's law of love surpass the common law of human love, that not only do we love those who love us, but even that we show affection to those who are enemies, and to those who hate us, that in this we imitate the example of the true piety and benevolence of the Father. Saint Chromatius of Aquileia, Commentary on the Gospel of St Matthew, from Tractate 12 1 Mt 5.46