"Pray for those who mistreat you." Lk 6:28
The challenge of today's gospel is clear and demanding. Not only must we love our enemies and do good to those who hate us, we must pray for those who mistreat us. While no believer denies the truth of these injunctions, it is important to remember that they are counter intuitive and our first and most natural response is to strike back against our enemies and those who hate us.
Living the gospel demands patience and endurance. We will not always succeed in living the gospel simply and openly. We will rail against God and those who undermine us or speak ill of us, but the gospel will not change. We must. A daily commitment to begin again, to see others, especially those who mistreat us, with God's eyes, will allow us to witness to God's desire for the world, and plant seeds of hope for the next generation.
Today, pray for someone who hurt you.
How do you live the hard sayings of Jesus?
Thanks so much for your words of wisdom and inspiration amidst the madness!
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