“The great reversal”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Monday, July 4, 2022

Matthew 5:43-48 (Forward, p. 67) CEV p. 987

It is only natural, and much to be expected, that we will treat those we like and who treat us pleasantly in a more loving and caring way than with those that don’t. That almost goes without saying. We may not actually hate them, but certainly we won’t feel kindly disposed towards them—and may even, intentionally or not, actually avoid them or shy away from much contact with them. Normally, we would certainly not go out of our way to treat them kindly or help them, bless them or pray for them.

Yet that is exactly what Jesus commands us to do: for those we would identify as our ‘enemies’, we are to go one step further and love them, that is, to deliberately and consciously act in a way towards them that promotes their well-being and helps them in tangible, practical ways. And, indeed, if there is someone who mistreats us or treats us badly, we are to pray for them. (It is hard to hate someone that we pray for!)

And, what is the rationale for this? It is to be like our heavenly Father, who makes the sun shine down on people both bad and good and provides rain for them, and blesses them regardless. Blessing and being nice to those who like us and treat us nicely is only natural but doing so with those we don’t particularly like is being just like our heavenly Father. And isn’t that exactly how we are to be? It’s a tall order, a mighty leap, but after all, seeing as Jesus does command it, it must be possible, albeit with His help. Amen.

Forward notes: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (verses 44-45).

“On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted by the Continental Congress. On that same day, the newly empowered American government passed a law that declared praying for the King and the British Parliament an act of treason.

“The Episcopal Church in the United States today is a world away from that 1776 edict—I grew up praying for our government in church most every Sunday. But have we prayed in church each Sunday for our enemies? Not so reliably. By that score, I’m not sure we’re doing much better than our predecessors in 1776 after all.

“Jesus always catches me off-guard. As he tells us to love our enemies, God warns us how the world is going to look: the sun will rise on the evil and the good, and the earth will keep on turning for all of us. Instead of priding ourselves on our goodness as we pray for our enemies, Jesus teaches us humility, that all of us are beneficiaries of God’s grace.”

MOVING FORWARD: “Pray for our leaders, even if you disagree with them.”