Learn to love your enemies. God did not place them in the world for us to elliminate. If possible refrain from violence.
I'm glad that Father Freeman said "Learn to . . . " as opposed to a direct, "Love your enemies." If I am going to love them, that will have to be learned behavior, not something I do naturally. Nevertheless, this is something I have to take very seriously, since it is a command of Jesus.
"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." [Luke 6:27]
The story of the early church was the story of Christians doing just that, loving their enemies, and facing the consequences of loving non-retaliation in the setting of widespread persecution by the powers-that-be. In this manner, over many generations, they shook the empire!
As for me, here in my safe little niche in the midst of a modern empire, it's often hard to imagine that I have any personal enemies at all. It might seem that my ability to love my enemies is never put to the test.
But short of true enemies, there are certainly people, I suppose, who don't respect me a lot, or who have even lied about me, or willfully misinterpreted me, for their own reasons, in the worst possible light. That sort of thing bothers me, and I am not inclined to respond in love.
But, of course, if you cannot love those who are merely not your warmest friends, you will have a major problem with those who are your active enemies.
I suppose one extends the borders of love (the realm of those whom we will allow ourselves to love) only gradually, on a case by case basis. In the instant, for example, that you realize a supposed friend has been lying about you, right then you have to make the decision to love or to withhold love. In other words, it is not something accomplished in theory, or via some meditative exercise, but only in the midst of the fray, relationally, in the moment. Jesus said:
"If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you epect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." [Luke 6:32-36]
This is the way of Jesus, and it is the Cross of Christ. That is to say, it well may come at a cost. One doesn't follow in this way half-heartedly, or selectively, or with constant reservations and exceptions. One follows, or one does not follow. In the moment, on a case-by-case basis, the option is presented: to love or not to love, and the temptation will always be to choose the apparently less costly way.
So here am I, having heard this call, but not sure how, on this particular day, in this particular place, I will be required to answer it. But be assured, this day, in some way or another, you and I will be called to love beyond the self-drawn borders of what we have deemed loveable. It may involve forgiving someone (putting aside forever the hurt they've caused) or it may involve giving up both your cloak and your tunic. It may involve a refusal to respond in kind to an act of aggression.
In the early church, we see the sacrificial love of the early Christians ramifying throughout the empire, having long-term consequences which no single individual could possibly foresee. They were simply following Jesus, in the moment, in the best way they could, at whatever the cost.
Jesus, help me to love that way.
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