Bulletin #98
This concept is a hard one to grasp and understand, because as human beings we tend to not like or interact with those who have done harm to you. We look at our enemies with a different lens, but as Christians, Jesus Christ tells us to love all, even those who have done harm to us. The concept of loving your enemy is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount found in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 5:43-48). Jesus challenges his followers to love not only their neighbors but also their enemies, saying, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
When looking deeper into this teaching, we can find profound depth and transformative power. This teaching goes beyond merely tolerating or coexisting with those who oppose or harm us. It involves actively seeking their well-being, forgiveness, and reconciliation, regardless of their actions towards us, because for Christians, loving our enemies is not just a moral code but also a reflection of their faith in Christ. Jesus demonstrated this love throughout his life, even praying for forgiveness for those who crucified him. Therefore, loving one’s enemies becomes a way to emulate Christ and live out his teachings.
One might ask the question of how to love something or someone who has done harm to you… It starts by self reflection. Loving one’s enemies requires a profound inner transformation. It challenges individuals to overcome feelings of anger, resentment, and vengeance and instead cultivate compassion, empathy, and forgiveness. In doing so, it not only changes one’s relationship with their enemies but also shapes their own character and spiritual growth.
Therefore, Christians believe that God’s love extends to all, including those who oppose Him or his followers. Loving one’s enemies reflects the boundless and unconditional love that God offers to humanity, inviting believers to embody this divine love in their own lives, and invites Christians to embody compassion, forgiveness, and reconciliation in a world often marked by division and conflict, offering a transformative vision of love that transcends boundaries and heals wounds.
Rev. Fr. Movses Shannakian