Cain hated Abel for “standing higher” in “God’s esteem” than he felt – he himself did – so he killed his “only” brother…
King Saul of Old, hated David, the young shepherd boy – for stealing the hearts of the people with his winning ways – so he tried to kill him at every conceivable chance he got.
Old Saul of Tarsus, hated the followers of Jesus so much – because he thought they were blasphemers and heretics – so he made a career of “rounding them up” – so that he could have them be stoned to death…like St. Stephen…
Wouldn’t it be nice if we were – more civilized today?
And of course, people question – whether we are – or – are not…
And of course you could never tell that we are supposed to be more civilized by watching the nightly news…
Maybe the fact of the matter is that we are less civilized today…and we just need to admit that…
I wonder how well that would play?
Today, people tend to “smolder” on the inside. We hold “grudges” for an eternity. We “hate” for a lifetime and beyond.
We stay out of people’s way, we avoid them like the plague. We consider them “dead to me.”
We try to stay away from any and all fiery outbursts – for fear of what they may touch off – both in ourselves – and in the ones – that we burst out at…
When we declare war against another – it is mostly “submarine warfare”…our attacks are “beneath the surface”…under the belt…we go low…
We can be a sneaky lot. We try to cover our tracks well. We drop depth charges here and a few depth charges there…
“Subterfuge” is a word that comes to mind…we attempt to use deceit to achieve our goals.
I am not sure why but – trickery, intrigue, deviousness, deceit, deception and dishonesty, all come to mind.
We do not always take the “high road.”
And of course, Jesus calls us and all people to take the high road…the path of righteousness…the better way…
At the time of Jesus “love” and “hate” were not understood in terms of “internal emotional states,” feelings or attitudes.
Jesus was not asking us to “feel the love” toward our enemies…
“To love our enemies” does not mean to try and feel any kind of “affection” for them, whatsoever.
But rather, it means to be attached to them, to be devoted to them, to be bonded with them, to actually join one’s fate – with theirs, it means to seek their welfare, their fair and just treatment by others.
Yikes!
That sounds a lot harder – doesn’t it? A lot more involved…a lot more work…
Maybe it would be a whole-lot-easier-to merely just “like” our enemies…a little bit.
Jesus being Jesus – would go great lengths to point out, that God treat’s God’s enemies – the evil and the unrighteous – the same as God’s friends – the good and the righteous.
Ought “we” not attempt to do the same?
There is no path to love; love is the path!
In other words, just do it. Just love!
Grow up a little. You are supposed to be children of God’s kingdom. When are going to start “acting” like it?
Just when are you going to start “living” like you belong to him?
When are you going to start – “living out” your God created identity?
“A” point of the whole Sermon on the Mount – is that we are supposed to live generously and graciously toward others, indeed to all others…the exact same way – God lives toward you.
When are we going to “change?”
When are we going to “start?”
Do you even know “who” you hate or why? Do you remember anymore?
More civilized huh? More civilized than what?
In the long run, it may be easier to love the ones we look in the eye and hate…then it is to be attached to them, devoted to them, bonded with them, or to actually join our fate with theirs…
I mean come on now, do we really want to seek their welfare, their fair and just treatment by all others…
Maybe, just maybe this whole loving the enemy isn’t such a bad thing…I mean, enemies need love too!
Wouldn’t it be funny – if loving them – is the very least that we can do? And taking the easy way out like normal?
“Love your enemies!” All of ‘em!