“Love your enemies”

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“Love your enemies.” This statement by Jesus, found in the gospel from Luke 6:27-38, is a hard call. It becomes even harder living in a world that has become increasingly polarized. “Do good to those who hate you.” I am trying to figure out who would hate my guts. Maybe it would include those who follow extreme right-wing politics, those who actively oppose indigenous rights or racists who target recent migrants to this country or those who stand for the rights of mining and oil companies to ruthlessly exploit our our land and seas. Now, I am not sure how I can do good to them when I actively oppose the harm they are doing to the beautiful world we live in. I’ll just hold this for a moment and carry on reading through the additional commands of Jesus. “Bless those who curse you.” Something is beginning to make sense. Jesus is advising me to avoid falling into the trap of doing what they do. These people would like to do me harm. They curse me. They would like nothing better than to see me beaten up or at least frightened into submission.

 

It takes a lot of courage to stand up in a hall and speak out against these people, especially when they are surrounded by their supporters and fans and friends. But the point is that we should indeed oppose what these people do and not resort to the same tactics that they use when ridiculing those who oppose them. “Be compassonate. Do not judge … do not condemn”. I certainly judge and condemn what these people do. Jesus understands what this means because he had no difficulties in overturning the tables of moneylenders in the Temple. “Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” Jesus strongly opposed those who exploited others. But his attitude was one of compassion in that he wanted them to see what they were doing. What Jesus is asking of us is not to allow ourselves to be guided by the values of this world, a world which values the ability to undermine and belittle others.

 

So then, let not our enemies dictate the values by which we choose to live in our relationships to those around us. Let us show that it possible for people of diverse views, political beliefs and religious persuasions to work together to the common good.