Pondering the words of Christ
“Love thy enemies”
And turning, as always,
The question onto
My own inner brokenness,
“Whose enemy am I?”
I ask myself.
To be an enemy,
You don’t have to be evil,
Just another person
Who’s doing the best you can,
But whose beliefs, needs, desires
Strike against another’s,
Like iron to flint,
Annoying to the core.
Who have I wronged?
Who have I hurt--
Unintentionally, of course--
Or at least I tell myself that,
Hoping it is true.
I don’t like to think of myself
As a hurtful person.
What am I doing today
That someone in some way
Will see as a hurt,
As a threat,
As a harassment,
As an annoyance,
As a judgment?
Intentions matter not--
Although I mean no harm--
Although God knows my heart,
People do not.
“Actions speak louder than words.”
Somewhere in this world today,
Someone sees me as an enemy--
As a hurtful person.
Maybe that person doesn’t know me
Know who I am inside
Know my inner feelings.
The question may not be who
But how.
How am I an enemy?
I can’t change another person’s feelings--
Irrational though they may be--
But I can act in a way
That shows him love--
That might change his heart.
Who have I left unloved?
Who have I left unclothed, unfed?
Yet, even so,
Mechanical alms--
Gifts without the heart--
Do little good.
They have no heart behind them.
I must act with heart…
I must act with love.
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” James 2:14-17 [NIV]
“There is a saying, ‘Love your friends and hate your enemies.’ But I say, Love your enemies!...If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much.” Matthew 5:44, 46 [TLB]
So if you are standing before an altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and suddenly remember that a friend has something against you , leave your sacrifice there beside the altar and go and apologize and be reconciled to him, and then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” Matthew 5:23-24 [TLB]