The Bible has often been called a great textbook on human behaviour. If people followed the teaching of Jesus a lot of psychiatrists could close their offices and go fishing or golfing. Jesus tells his disciples in the gospel today: ‘do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you’. From my years of work as a priest, I have seen that a large part of the problems that people have, stem from un-forgiveness, bitterness, resentment and even guilt (which can be anger and un-forgiveness towards ourselves). The recommendations of Jesus in the gospel today are very challenging from a natural point of view. Two little boys had an unmerciful row. At bedtime the eldest one Liam was nagging his younger brother Sean and his mother said: ‘Liam, you shouldn’t let the sun go down on your anger. Sean could die tonight and if he did you would never forgive yourself. You would always remember the last thing you did was fight with your brother. Go up and forgive him before he goes to sleep’. Reluctantly, off he goes, and this is what his mother heard him say: ‘Sean, I’ve come to forgive you in case you die tonight, but if you don’t’ die tonight; watch out ‘cos I’ll plaster you in the morning.’ On a more serious note, there was a Belfast woman who husband was shot as he drove the family to Mass. After the tragedy she was praying with her young son Gavin and he asked: ‘Mummy, will the men who killed Daddy go to heaven?’ Breathing a silent prayer, the mother replied, ‘If they are really sorry and ask Jesus to forgive them, then they will go to heaven’. Gavin replied: ‘well, if they are going to be there, I don’t want to be in Heaven with them’. The mother thought for a moment and replied ‘If Jesus forgives and saves them, setting them free from their terrible sin, he will change them. They will be completely different people’. Gavin said: ‘Mummy. Let’s pray for these men and ask God to save them’. We all have heard thee words of Gordon Wilson echoed across the world in 1987, just hours after his 20-year-old daughter Marie was killed in an IRA bomb in Enniskillen.  ‘I bear no ill will. I bear no grudge. Dirty sort of talk is not going to bring her back to life. She’s in heaven and we shall meet again. I will pray for these men tonight and every night.’ Jesus challenges us to respond to darkness with light. Instead of cursing the darkness why not light a candle. In our lives we come in contact with so many people; and no doubt we have many friends, but as we know we also have enemies; people we just don’t get on with. Jesus had enemies from the very first day,   they tried to humiliate him, making life difficult for him and they eventually crucified him. There was no bitterness in his heart. He was the good shepherd for his enemies also.  He was always reaching out to his enemies, hoping to reach their hearts.  There are difficlut peole in our lives also,  people who make our lives uncomfortable and painful, people who have hurt us,  and continue to hurt us.  We might wish that they were not there, so that we can get on with our lives.  There is nothing wrong with these feelings and emotions, we must always remeber that our emotions are transitory, and your emotions do not define who you are. Hurtful people can bring out the worst in us but they also can bring out the best in us.  Courage, patience, sincerity and forgiveness.  This is why Jesus says: ‘forgive your enemies’,  these are very challenging words,  they are the ultimate test of our christian life.  This test we do not have to take it alone,  it is Jesus who gives us the strength,  to forgive.  So when it seems impossible let us ask for the grace to join Jesus on the cross and utter these words ‘I forgive’.