The call to "love your enemy" is rooted in the fact that the infinite love of God is available, offered, accessible, gifted to ALL at all times. No one is excluded from God’s love; so neither should we exclude from our love.
Love Your Enemies
June 16, 2020
In today’s Gospel, we continue with the Sermon on the Mount discourse in Matthew. We hear the familiar words, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you . . . be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” So often with familiar texts, I find it hard not to just go through the motions like I already know the outcome because I’ve heard them so often before. In an effort to be fresh, I decided that it was necessary for me to place myself in a space where I could try to hear the words differently and be called to something new and relevant for today. My prayer before I began to write, was for God to open my ears and my eyes…and for the Spirit to percolate in me, so that I may better share with you.
South side of parish center with
new stained glass window.
Given that, rather than being drawn to the entire statement (as I have been in the past), “love your enemy,” I was drawn to the word — love. Specifically, I was drawn to the call to be perfect like God. I am called to embrace God as agape – pure self-gift — and my own call to live agape in my everyday life, with ALL people. Richard Rohr explains that when you share love, you become more loving, not less. As we work to open our hearts to the love of God, let us also work to be that love of God in the world and to expand hearts to love everyone, even those we may call enemy.
Peace and be well,
Kristen Kraus
Faith Formation Team
Matthew 5:43–48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
"The Heart Of God" by Tom Franzak
Sung live by the Most Precious Blood Music Ministry at the 2012 St. Cecilia Mass at MPB. Soloist is parishioner, Hays Shoop.
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