Love your enemies wisely
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. ”
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus challenges His followers with the radical command to love their enemies. He calls us to extend goodness and generosity towards those who may have wronged us, emphasizing actions like lending without expecting any repayment. By embracing this divine mandate, we not only emulate the character of our Heavenly Father but also demonstrate ourselves as true children of the Most High. For in His infinite kindness, He extends His grace even to the ungrateful and the wicked. As we adopt such an extraordinary love, we open ourselves to a great reward from heaven and actively participate in the divine mission of spreading God's love and compassion to all.
I'm not going to lie to you and pretend that this verse doesn't bother me. I feel like that guy who asked the Lord who should he consider to be his neighbor. I do believe that much wisdom is required here. Do you allow an abuser to continue their abuse while you shower them with love and make it easy for them to continue in their evil? Probably not! Do you provide for that person who refused to help you now that your roles have been reversed and they're in need? Quite possibly! One size does not fit all. Before casting your pearls before swine, pray for the person and situation, with a compassionate heart, and let the Holy Spirit show you how to truly bless them.
