Enemies

SCRIPTURE
- Matthew 5:44
“I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” 

REFLECTION
- Sr. Carol

MUSIC
- Eye Has Not Seen

NOTES
- Link to 10 Minutes of Soft Music on Vimeo

PRAYER OF LETTING GO
To You do I belong, O God,
 into Your hands I surrender my life.
 Pour out Your Spirit upon me
 that I may love You perfectly,
 and serve You faithfully
 until my soul rests in You.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:21

This morning, when I woke up, I took my own advice that I half-jokingly suggested in my reflection on Saturday. Sitting on the edge of the bed, grateful to be alive, I just lifted my head to the heavens and proclaimed the words of our blessed mother. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And then I made some bacon. Welcome to prayer. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_03 1:24

Amen. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. Psalm 23, I will not fear. The Lord is my shepherd, my guide, my constant care, and I lack nothing.

SPEAKER_01 1:49

He invites me into gentle pastures, into quiet waters, where my soul finds breath again.

SPEAKER_03 2:03

He guides me along paths that lead toward life.

SPEAKER_01 2:10

And even when I walk through the valley of deep shadow, I will not fear, for you are beside me, securing my steps, comforting my heart.

SPEAKER_03 2:24

You prepare a table for me, even in the presence of what threatens. You anoint me with tenderness, and my cup overflows with all you give.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

Surely your goodness and your mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in your presence forever.

SPEAKER_03 2:52

Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_01 2:58

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 3:40

In a homily based on today's scripture, a priest began. Most of us feel as if we have had enemies in our lives. So raise your hand if you have many enemies. Quite a few very honest people raise their hands. Now, raise your hands if you have only a few enemies. Some more hands went up. Finally, raise your hands if you have no enemies. The priest looked around and saw way in the back an old man raise his hand. The elders stood up and said, I have no enemies whatsoever. Delighted. The priest invited the man to the front of the church. What a blessing, the priest exclaimed. How old are you? I'm ninety-eight years old and I have no enemies. The priest marveled. What a wonderful Christian life you must have led. Tell us how it is that you have no enemies. The man shrugged. All the jerks are dead. Indeed, that's reality. Most of us, no matter how hard we try, go through life with people we feel are our enemies. People who have caused us pain, sometimes deep pain. People who seem to hate us are people we just don't like. So when we hear Jesus tell us to love our enemies, it feels like a tall order. This teaching is extremely difficult for most of us. Here are some simple helps to implement it. They combine the best of theology and psychology. First, we have to admit that some people just do not like us. So it's useless to try to change them. We can't control another person. Second, we need to turn away from hatred and not respond in kind. There's no good reason to act like a jerk toward those who treat us badly. Third, loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us is liberating. Too often we can find ourselves in battles with people who hate us. This dehumanizes everyone. Finally, from a great story from Mark Link. A woman was shocked when she heard Abraham Lincoln speak kindly of the Confederate soldiers. She challenged him, saying, I think we'd be better advised to focus on destroying our enemies rather than befriending them. Lincoln replied, Madam, we do destroy our enemies when we befriend them. What Jesus says is hard, but it's not impossible, and it's necessary. Jesus invites us to forgiveness and charity, freedom and happiness. Let's strive to love our enemies and pray for those who hate us. This is straight from Jesus, who wants us to be happy.

SPEAKER_02 8:03

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespassed against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Let us pray. Gracious, merciful God, you loved us even while we were far from you, and you ask us to love as you love. When our hearts are wounded or tempted to hold on to resentment, give us the courage to choose forgiveness over bitterness. Help us to see even our enemies as your beloved children, so that our love becomes stronger than our hurts. So that through us, others may catch a glimpse of your healing heart. We ask through Christ our Lord. To you do I belong, O God. Into your hands I surrender my life. Pour out your Spirit upon me, that I may love you perfectly and serve you faithfully until my soul rests in you. Don't forget our homework this week from yesterday's gospel. Ten minutes at bedtime before the Lord to hug and be hugged. The Discover page on the app, the show notes today, offer a link to some soft music to set the scene if interested. All right, friends, thank you for being with us today, and may God's blessing wrap you now in protection in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Know you are loved. Feel his embrace. And hopefully, we'll see you tomorrow.