So they say

“You have heard that it was said, 
‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
(Mt 5: 43-44 NRSV)
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I can’t remember the last time that words from scripture made headline news. This creates a wonderful opportunity to talk with other people about what this passage means to us and to them.  I appreciate the honesty of people who name that it’s hard to follow Jesus’ instructions on this one.  Truthfully, it’s hard to live into alot of the Sermon on the Mount, where these words are recorded. 
 
So, as people are talking about this year’s National Prayer breakfast, why not widen the conversation by asking them, and each other, how these words impact our own lives?  
What’s the word, idea, or situation that trips you up?  
How do these words empower us for a different way of being in the world? 
Do we respond by rejecting Jesus’ teaching as impossibly aspirational? 
Or by allowing God to turn us inside out and right side up?
 
Jesus’ instruction to “love your enemy” comes at the end of Mathew chapter 5. The words immediately before are: Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. (Mt 5: 42 NRSV)  (See, the teachings are not getting any easier!)
 
And right after “love your enemy” we read,….so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt 5: 45-48 NRSV)
 
What’s the word, idea, or situation that trips you up?  
Personally, I really have trouble with the word “enemy.” I realize that’s partly due to my privileged status in the world and partly due to my childhood role models of bridging differences and cultivating compassion. So I need to think about what  "enemy" means, and about what "love." Who do I find it difficult to behave lovingly toward? Jesus' words indicate that it more important to overcome the aversion than to figure out why  I find that person hard to "love." 
 
How do these words empower us for a different way of being in the world? The first metaphor in the Sermon on the Mount is salt.  When Jesus asks us to be salty people, he doesn’t mean provocative language. I encourage you to do things this week.  First, instead of adding fuel to the fire around “love your enemies” as a political situation, treat it as a conversation opportunity.  Second, read all of Matthew 5.  How do we wrestle with the difficult teachings we find there?  What questions are raised that may help us go deeper into Jesus’ teaching?  Who might it be helpful for you to talk with about your own questions and struggles?  When we name that something is hard, we come to a fork in the road.  We can either brush it off as impossible or irrelevant.  OR we can wrestle with the difficulty with what it really means to follow Jesus. That’s what moves us from “you’ve heard it said,” (did you hear what so and so said) to a transformative way of loving and living.
In God’s Grace, Karen

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