March 8 - Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  Matthew 5:43-48

I don’t think loving our enemies is what it seems. I think it’s easy to call something love, but get it mixed up with something else.

I’d like to think that love is creating a space where people can tell their ugliest, most shameful stories, and be made whole in the telling.

But what does making that space require? For sure, trying to make sure everyone is fed and sheltered, and knows they belong. But also, I think, it must mean holding the line against anyone who is perpetrating harm, which looks like trying to take someone else’s power away.  And really, people do that when they feel powerless, and out of control themselves, so it’s a vicious cycle. So sometimes, I’m pretty sure, loving our enemies means getting some distance ourselves, so as not to get hurt further. 

But this can't be sufficient. Just getting out of the way, and keeping ourselves safe can't possibly be enough sometimes. I don't know if everyone is called to this work or not and I wish I knew the right way to stand up and really push back, knowing that I can't control the outcome. I feel like resilience, courage, hope, mutuality, persistence, self sacrifice and a power beyond ourselves are required.

Loving God, grant us protection from those who would hurt us. Give us  strength to protect others when we can. And help us to avoid hurting others, when we feel hurt.

Link to Bible verses: Matthew 5