January 14, 2015

“The best charity is that given to a relative who does not like you.” Fiqh-us-Sunnah (Rules and Regulations of Purification and Prayer, Qur’an)

Jesus said, “Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you…” Matthew 5:44

“It is easy enough to be friendly to one’s friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion.” Gandhi

“The idea of loving your enemy and praying for them, meditating on those who seek to do you harm and wanting for them the life and love and happiness that you want for your children is enough teaching for a lifetime.” Relational Perfection, The Reverend Russell Rathbun

It is not really a surprise that the teaching to love your enemy is a universal teaching. In the essence of religion, the teachings that most benefit us are often the ones that push us to uncomfortable places. Jesus gives us many that really put us on edge: “Turn, the other cheek; sell your possessions and give the money to the poor; take up your cross and follow me; if you have two coats, give one to someone who has none.” And at the heart of each of these teachings is Jesus’ command to “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

In the Gospel of Luke, a teacher of the law asks Jesus “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus goes on to tell the story of the Good Samaritan. What we learn from that story is, without question, our neighbor is:

1. someone who is not like us, in particular, someone who we historically have hated
2. someone in desperate need, related or not
3. anyone who is not “me”

Who will you consider a neighbor today and will you do something for them? Remember, “love”, love of G*d and neighbor is to be the guiding principle to direct all of our actions.

Pastor Dave