Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me out, my enemy?” Sermon on the Mount: But I say to you, love your enemies. As both the Old and New Testament testify, we have enemies in this world. If you think about it, only one side has to decide to become an enemy. In the US currently people who in the past would have looked on those who disagree with them as political opponents to dispute with now consider them enemies to be eliminated. Jesus challenges us to have a God’s eye view of those who consider us as enemies. God loves everyone and if we can enlarge our vision we will be able to see perceived enemies as God sees them: made in the divine image, having an infinite value, worthy of respect. When St. Matthew has Jesus saying “Be perfect” St. Luke translates the saying as “Be compassionate just as God is compassionate.” That captures Jesus’ way to deal with enemies.
JUNE182024
By Church Staff
