To you who hear, I say..

To you who hear, I say,
love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Throughout the scriptures, there are phrases that get repeated, with good reason.

in the Old Testament, the words of the prophet may start with, “Thus says the Lord…” In the Gospels we often find Jesus saying,  “Amen, I say to you…”, or even, “Amen, Amen, I say to you…” These phrases tell us that it is very important, and we really should pay attention, God is talking, and He means it.

Jesus often ends His parables with something like, “Those who have ears ought to hear.”  That’s usually at the end of the parable and it lays down a challenge to the audience, “Did you really get what I said?” Here the challenge is the opening line.

When I read these words or other like them in other Gospels, I know I have to accept the challenge, I often wonder. Back then, were there lots of people who had enemies? Did lots of people hate one another? Here and now, I don’t know of anyone hates me, and I don’t have any enemies. So, I’m really trying to be in the group “who hear”.

Unfortunately, there’s been too much angry shouting, especially in our political processes. What we see and hear in the newscasts, on our social media platforms, on the street corner all start to look and sound like we have started to have enemies, and to hate.

It does not have to be that way. Let’s try to “hear” the  next few words - really “hear” them and use them to shine a light on the heart of the lesson.

Does this help? “Love those who disagree with you.” Do good to those who dislike you, and whom you dislike.” Those are easier to understand, but much harder to apply each and every day.

Let’s Pray for a moment.
Most loving Jesus, you came to show us the depth and strength of Your Father’s love for us. You did that by loving us – so much so that you died. Teach me to disagree without disliking and to love even those whom I do not like.