Jesus did indeed recognize that there are
such things as enemies—and we are not meant to wander through our lives
reckless and unaware of what or who can threaten us or do us harm. Certainly we should not turn a blind eye to
evil, which is the true enemy.
But Jesus’ command to love those we
perceive to be our enemies is actually a tool for discernment, and for our own
salvation. To love our enemies means a
great deal more than to simply not wish evil upon them; it means making a
conscious effort to find a path to our own mercy, for their sake and our
own. That path is found, Jesus tells us,
through prayer: Love your enemies, and pray for those who
persecute you (Mt 5:44).
--Elizabeth
Scalia, Word on Fire
To read the rest
of Elizabeth Scalia’s article, How does
loving one’s enemies work, really?, click here.
Image source: David
Spares Saul a Second Time, Old Testament miniature, The Morgan Library, https://www.themorgan.org/collection/crusader-bible/67#overlay-context=collection/crusader-bible/67
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