"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,.." -Mt. 5:44
“Love your enemies” Without a doubt, to be faithful followers of Jesus means that we have to make a lot of seemingly crazy and radical decisions. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. And human as we are, we might think “Why God, why must I love my enemy? Why love the enemy when he hurts me? Why pray for those who persecute me when they persecute me? They’re not worthy of my love and prayers, they don’t deserve it.” Jesus teaches us that seeking revenge is not the Christian way. Forgiveness is the way to deal with those who hurt us. He even urges us to “offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well.” Sometimes, or most of the time when people hurt us, it is so easy to think badly of our offender. It’s so easy to wish our enemies misfortune. It’s so easy to think of getting even. But seeking revenge and getting even will not lead to the peace that we so...