Love Your Enemies
Valerie Ferrara
"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." –Matthew 5:43-48
She said we tend to socialize with those like us, but if one side never talks to the other, we're living in an echo chamber. "We treat those who live differently than we do as our enemies. How did Jesus say we should treat our enemies?"
Ms. Steinhaus told students she wanted to leave them with two thoughts.
1) Jesus redefined whom we should associate with. People of his day loved those who loved them and hated their enemies. We are no different. "Who are you purposefully distancing yourself from? Reflect on your actions and how you interact with your classmates, your friends, and your neighbors. Our faith asks us to find the face of God in everyone we meet, no matter how much we disagree with them."
2) Loving our enemies demonstrates to the world there is something beyond this life. "The world is watching the way we 'do church'," she admonished. "You have a unique opportunity, because of the great diversity here, to live what Jesus is calling us to do.
In closing, Ms. Steinhaus laid down a challenge: "Have lunch with someone new. Who are you actively distancing yourself from? Go eat with them. It will take intentional effort, but being a Christian means being reconciled – both to God and to each other."
"Will you go?" she asked. "Will you break beyond your boundaries? You might find something surprising."
