Reflection
The real challenge of Jesus’ teaching on loving one’s enemies is not “loving” some group assigned a label based on politics or sociology or economics or “loving” some remote sinner we will never have anything to do with. The challenge is to love the people among whom we live and work and go to school, the people with whom we struggle, the people who annoy us. The Jesus of the gospel instills in us a vision that sees beyond stereotypes, politics and appearances and recognizes and honors the goodness possessed by every human being.
Jay Cormier
Prayer
May I understand the meaning of love as Jesus taught it.
Action
Who are those in my life that I find difficult to “love”? Am I aware of anyone who finds me difficult? What would be truly “loving” in this situation?
Suggested Reading
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,
Matthew 5:54
This is the revolution of Jesus, the greatest revolution in history: from hating our enemy to loving our enemy; from the cult of complaint to the culture of gift. If we belong to Jesus, this is the road we are called to take.
Pope Francis
If we don’t plant the right things, we will reap the wrong things. It goes without saying. And you don’t have to be, you know, a brilliant biochemist and you don’t have to have an IQ of 150. Just common sense tells you to be kind, ninny, fool. Be kind.
Maya Angelou
Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind.
Henri Frederic Amiel
If you must hate a man for the many things about which you disagree, remember that you should also love him for the many things about which you agree.
Ivan Panin
I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me… All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.
Jackie Robinson
Getting people to like you is merely the other side of liking them.
Norman Vincent Peale
I think that hate is a thing, a feeling, that can only exist where there is no understanding.
Tennessee Williams
Take care, be kind, be considerate of other people and other species, and be loving.
John Lithgow