Matthew 5:43-48: Teaching on Love of Enemies
Friday, April 29, 2022
You have heard it said: You shall love your friend and hate your enemy . . .
This is the law that pulls the weed away from the wheat. This is the law that sees no potential but sees only hopelessness. This is the law that refuses to believe in hope.
But I say to you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you . . .
This is the Law of Love that allows the darnel to grow among the wheat and that allows God to make the harvest. This is the Law Jesus enacts for us. This is the Law the Spirit plants in our hearts. This is the Law we celebrate as we remember God’s gift of the Easter miracle.
God says: I fully understand how difficult this Law of Love is for you and it is for this reason that I come to walk among you each day and night. It is for this reason that I have explained to you how I fulfill the words of my prophets. It is for this reason that my Spirit speaks with and for you when you find yourselves among your enemies. It is for this reason that I protect and guide you as you work to build my kingdom. It is for this reason that I sacrifice all for you . . . so that you might rest in my love forever. When you are anxious, worried, frightened or even terrified, call on me, and remember this teaching. It will not come upon you suddenly . . . you must begin to practice it each day in small ways. Begin with a small gesture, a small prayer, and small petition in favor of your enemy. And rely on me. I will never fail . . . and therefore neither will you.
Enter the words darnel or enemies or Gathering In in to the blog search bar and explore.
Click on the image above for a sermon about Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jesus’s words as recorded in Matthew and reflect on how God harvests.
Let us determine to include our enemies in our daily petitions. Let us continue to ask God to speak for and with us when we are in the presence of evil. And let us consider how and why we harvest as we continue our Eastertide abiding in the Easter miracle.
Tomorrow, Jesus’ teaching on almsgiving.
The Noontimes 