This Sunday we are taught how to love as God loves! God loves all people, saint and sinner, exactly the same. God has a very special kind of love; it is a total self-giving love, a love that does not expect anything in return, does not question whether someone deserves it, does not think before loving. God is love. And love is an enormous, unbelievably huge power that we cannot begin to understand because we are too limited in our being. It would be like understanding infinity: you would either go mad or die; it is just too BIG.
People have a tendency to pick and choose who they will love. But God is telling us to love everyone, your neighbor AND your enemy. My mother in law says that people who do wrong things, who aren’t always nice, need the longest and most hugs! I’m sure she is right…and one day I may be as loving and caring as she is without regard to the individual having done anything or nothing at all to deserve it! I should submit her name for sainthood! It is a hard thing to love someone who is very unkind to you, but love them you must. This does not mean that you have to let them be mean to you, or hang out with them and be tormented. It does mean that you need to lift them up in your heart…think of it as lifting them closer to God so that they may be made nicer by being closer to Him! You can forgive, without forgetting. This means you forgive the act, but you remember what and how it happened so that you avoid the same outcome in your future, perhaps learning to be more tolerant and forgiving in the moment and being able to offer good/love in response to bad/hate. Do not carry a grudge, nor a condemnation, but a forgiveness of behavior. People can change and God can certainly change them. Remember that light you are supposed to let shine for others to see? This is that light shining when you can forgive in your heart a wrong that someone has done you and not carry anger and hatred inside your heart. If your heart is filled with love and forgiveness, there is no room for hate and anger! Other people will see your love and forgiveness and they will be drawn to your light!
You are not a better person for only loving those who love you. Where is the special challenge in doing that? As Jesus says, “Even sinners do that!” Rise up to the challenge, make yourself a better, stronger, more loving and forgiving person! Be kind and merciful, and slow to anger, just like God!
The Psalm this week is Psalm 103: The Lord is Kind and Merciful