OUR DAILY VITAMIN FOR THE SOUL... Thursday, September 11. Love of Enemies Lk 6:27-38 [Jesus said to his disciples,] 27“But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. 34If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit [is] that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. 35But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful. 37“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. 38Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” REFLECTION & CHALLENGE: Love your enemies. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and proceeds to spell out how to go about it. We must look for ways to do something good for those who think ill of us. We must pray for those who have done us wrong. The enemy may be a family member, a neighbor, a co-worker, or a fellow parishioner. Instead of avoiding or tolerating our enemies, we are enjoined to desire what is best for them. The Psalmist sings about God destroying the wicked, hates those who hate God, and loathes those who rise against God (cf Ps 139:19, 21). Jesus, in contrast, asks us not only to love God and neighbor but also those who hate and persecute us. That must seem like a tall order, but Jesus does not only command it. He does it himself during his public ministry and as he is just about to die on the cross. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can do the same. “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend” (Martin Luther King Jr.). We pray: Lord Jesus, your love brings freedom and pardon. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and set my heart free with your merciful love that nothing may make me lose my temper, ruffle my peace, take away my joy, nor make me bitter towards anyone. Amen. (365 days journey with the Lord)
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 00:16:04 +0000
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