“You have heard it said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for
a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist anyone who is evil; if someone strikes
you on your right cheek, turn the other also. If anyone sues you to take away
your coat, give up your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go a
second one. Give to those who ask you, and don’t turn away anyone who wants to
borrow from you. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what
credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back even more.
If you love those who love you, and do good to those who do good to you, what
credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you only greet your
friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even tax collectors do the
same?
”You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and
hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you,
do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and
persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.
“Love your enemies, and do good; lend, expecting nothing
back. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for
he is kind toward the ungrateful and wicked. God makes his sun to rise on the
evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Be merciful, even
as your Father is merciful. Be whole and complete, just as your Father in
heaven is whole and complete.
Reflection
There is nothing more outrageous than
loving your enemy. Many explain away this teaching, arguing that Jesus never
meant it to be taken literally. Jesus
lived it, though, even to the point of asking God to forgive the people who nailed
him to the cross. Do you have trouble with this command? What people do you
find hardest to love? If the U.S. wants to be a Christian country, would it have
to live up to this command?
Prayer:
Help me understand, Lord, that even my enemies are not beyond the scope of your
love.
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