Lenten Reflection 2.27.12

Love of enemies is a core teaching of Christianity. It is one of the most well known of Jesus’ teachings: “Love your enemies.” [Matthew 5: 44] But who are are enemies? Perhaps you’ve seen the current bumper sticker: “When Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies’ he probably didn’t mean bomb them.” We tend to think of our enemies as those who are enemies of our nation. We think of enemies as those not from our group or tribe or nation who present a threat to us or who we believe hate us. Who do you think of as an enemy?

We can also look at enemies as people who are a personal threat to us. Someone we don’t get along with. Someone who seems out to get us at work or at school. Maybe it is a rival for a love interest. Maybe we think of an enemy as someone who may perpetrate a crime against us. We’re afraid of being held up or attacked or robbed. So, we may think of an enemy in terms of a personal external threat. Can you think of someone that you might consider a personal enemy?

In Psalm 25, the writer prays, “Do not let my enemies exult over me.” We can think of enemies in the ways we mentioned above. But we can also think of enemies as those internal character traits and behaviors that work against our best interests. We can reflect on our enemies within and trying not to let those enemies get the best of us. Here we may think of things like selfishness, or prejudice, or addiction. We may consider how we let out harsh words that hurt others. We may think of opportunities, abilities, and talents laying dormant and not being put to full use. Maybe an enemy would be laziness, or lack of initiative, or apathy. Can you think of any enemies within you?

Lent is a season to free ourselves from the grip of our enemies, however we may perceive them. It is a time to limit if not eliminate the power that we let our perceived enemies have over us. It is a time to think about how to disempower our enemies with the power of love. It is a time to reflect and consider how we can follow the way of Jesus loving ourselves, others, and, yes, our enemies.

Prayer
Jesus taught us to love our enemies. That can be very difficult. Whether the enemies are outside of us or within us. But we know that the power of love is stronger than the power of hatred and violence. May we have the strength and trust to embrace the freedom of love so that we are not controlled by our enemies or by fear. Amen.