But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
“William Roper: “So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!”Sir Thomas More: “Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?”William Roper: “Yes, I'd cut down every law in England to do that!”Sir Thomas More: “Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat?
This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's! And if you cut them down, and you're just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then?
Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!”
American children first learn to love their enemies when they play games. Games make no sense without rules, as they soon learn; and playing by the rules means losing occasionally. And losing is okay. Having fun and having friends is more important than winning or losing. If games make opponents of friends, they also make opponents into friends.
War teaches warriors to admire their enemies, especially when the despised enemy proves craftier than themselves. Russia certainly has the power to destroy Ukraine, but they haven't the craft to defeat them. Eventually both sides, having learned respect for their opponents' intelligence, ability, power, and loyalty to their respective countries, will sit down and talk together. And intelligent, respectful conversation will lead to deeper respect, admiration, and to a kind of love.
Warriors who fail to respect their enemies are soon defeated by their own arrogance, as the United States was defeated by the Vietcong and the Taliban. No one learns democratic principles from a missile, but they might learn something from conversation.
The Lord teaches his disciples to approach their enemies with respect for their human nature. We should expect our opponents to love their spouses, parents, and children. We should expect their laws, customs, and aspirations to be no more unjust or arbitrary than our own. If we don't understand them or their ways, that's our ignorance, and not theirs.
In today's gospel, the Lord commands us to, "Love your enemies." Expecting to find persons made in the image and likeness of God, and acting as if we too are incarnate spirits made out of mud generates affection among families, conversations with opponents, and peace among nations.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.