Love Your Enemies

For Saturday, October, 6th

‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

 ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’ Luke 6:27-38

Love Your Enemies

This is not an endless banquet
not an endless lazy river
this is the ride of your life
better fasten your seat belt.

Loving those who love us
who cradle us and hold us
require little of us in return
yet still even they challenge us.

But this is the love marathon
where there are heartbreak hills
and sudden downward turns
weather breaks out here.

This love require a solid frame
a skin that is soft and thick
a heart willing to be broken
eyes that are willing to cry.

This love will change the world
yet it will hurt more than we want
it will spin us round and hold us
until and beyond all time.