Luke 6:27-36 (NRSV)
“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
I started to break this long segment from Jesus' sermon into chunks, but I'm not sure that in this case that's especially helpful.
Each piece of this famous discourse on loving your enemy feeds on itself. Taking each piece out of the whole makes it harder I think to even comprehend.
For example if someone is in a violent or abusive relationship, reading some of these texts is going to be difficult rather than transformative.
And transformative is definitely what Jesus was going for!
So, instead maybe looking at this text in a large chunk over a few days might be helpful.
For now, to begin, start by asking yourself who your enemy is.
Who is the person you are being called to love. to bless, and do good to.
The person who it feels like it would be impossible to do so.
And then - before we go any further - stop and pray for that person.
Right now.
Lord, I ask you to look with kindness upon the person that it is hardest for me to do so and to enlarge my capacity to do so as well. Amen
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