LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

PRAYER PAUSE 

Wednesday 7 September 2016

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly.” (Luke 6:27-38)

Reflection. Three words that could change the world! What if Assad – or Mugabe – could reflect on them? Could invite their “enemies” to sit down – like the Colombian government has done after 42 years – and explore common ground. Everyone would be a winner. Jesus’ words pierce the dark hostility humankind has grown accustomed to for centuries. He calls us to rise above the differences we meet with others and grasp the aspirations that unite us. It requires compromise, patience, trust. But if we try it will astonish us. We will be like those disciples in the upper room on Easter day when Jesus stood before them. They could hardly believe it. This time it is us who have to rise. We too will be surprised and astonished.

Prayer. Lord, give us the courage to rise above our differences with others and reach out to those we somehow see as “enemeies.”  Amen