Love your enemies …

Today’s Gospel is from the powerful Sermon on the Mount and Jesus calls on us to look inside ourselves.  If we allow hateful thoughts to overtake us, we cannot be people of peace.  If we nurture memories of the times that we were hurt and convince ourselves that we have a right to vengeance, our lives will be in continual turmoil.  Jesus tells us to adopt a new way of thinking and living, a way that is radically opposed to the way of the world.  He tells us to turn the other cheek: that’s hard. He tells us to love our enemies: that’s harder still. He tells us to be pleasant with those who attack us, to live in peace with all, even those who hate us.  Others may or may not change their ways, but we cannot allow their actions to change us.  We cannot allow others to steal the joy we have in being united to Jesus. We need to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect; perhaps perfect might be better translated wholesome or sincere. If we do our best to be wholesome on the inside, our lives will be full of the Joy of the Lord.

… and pray for those who persecute you!