Our enemies tend to be some complex projection of our own aversions.
“The last thing any of us want to hear is that we might have any responsibility
for creating our own enemies. After all it wasn’t our car that drove over the
newly sodded lawn. And, we’re not the
ones that spread malicious gossip about a loved one, nor are we the one who
seemed to take great pleasure in stealing a colleague’s client. But, we are ever to get rid of our enemies,
or at least render them powerless over us, we will have to own up to our part
in creating the enmity” (Robert Thurman, Love Your Enemies, p.16).
“Just
then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal
life? ’He said to him, ‘What is
written in the law? What do you read there? ’He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and
with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself. ’And he said to him, ‘You have given the right
answer; do this, and you will live.’
“But
wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour? ’Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from
Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him,
beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that
road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the
place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near
him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having
poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to
an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave
them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I
will repay you whatever more you spend. ”Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man
who fell into the hands of the robbers? ’He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go
and do likewise’” (Luke, 10:25-37).
Dear Jesus, give me the courage to see, even dimly, the reflection the of
my enemies that lies buried deeply within
myself. Grant me, then,, the grace to be moved to deep pity for our shared plight; in
your kind mercy, bandage and both of our wounds so that we may give our whole
hearts and minds, souls and all our strength to loving you. Amen
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