Love Your Enemy

 

One of my friends calls me Serious Dee.

I can’t fault her.

I AM serious.

I don’t mean to be.

I just think and feel and think and feel

So deeply.

It’s a blessing and a curse, really—

But I don’t suppose I’d change it.

 

Since returning from my European adventure,

I’ve been very serious.

Getting back into the swing of life,

Which includes a major, undesired, physical move at school, and

Unintentionally finding myself immersed in political attacks,

Has me feeling very burdened.

 

Yet through it all,

One scripture passage has been rising to the top of my consciousness:

 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 

that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good,

and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? 

Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?

Do not even pagans do that? 

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5: 43-48)

 

Nowhere does this scripture passage,

Or any other passage of scripture,

Say that we should

Mock, make fun of, attack, or maliciously put down our enemies.

Love your enemies, Jesus says, and pray for those who persecute you.

Love your enemies, Jesus says, and greet those different than you.

Speak up for those cannot speak for themselves, Proverbs says.

Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, Micah says.

Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and every form of malice, Paul says.

Clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and invite people in, Jesus says.

Be blessed as a peacemaker, Jesus says, for you will be called a child of God.

 

Oh God: May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.