December 17, 2010, Third Friday in Advent
Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48
You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
We like to complain, don’t we?
We complain if someone cuts off on the highway. We complain if someone takes too long at the register. We complain about our neighbors. We complain about our jobs.
The list could go on and on, and we probably would have enough complaints to get us from today until next Christmas.
In this passage, Christ calls us to love the enemy, to love that person, group, or thing that frustrates us, causes us grief, and makes us want to scream to the mountain tops. Even more, Christ calls us to pray for this person. It’s this idea that we should be concerned for others, and see to live in love and peace with one another, even those whom would persecute us. We pray that God may work his love and grace and bring healing and reconciliation to all parties; that God’s peace will reign.
How can we respond to this call in our day? Think of something or someone that has caused you much grief recently. Maybe it is a situation at work. Maybe it is a family situation. Maybe it is something that has taken place in the past that you still are hurt by. Whatever it may be, spend time today praying about that and give that frustration, that hurt, over to God and allow God to work in the midst of that situation.
Lord, it is hard for us to pray for our enemies. We want to complain. We want to scream. And, we want everyone to hear it. But you Lord call us to pray. Teach us to pray for our enemies. Show us the way to your vision of holiness. In Christ Name, Amen.
Shannon Blosser 