Today is Palm Sunday, and the beginning of Holy Week for Christians around the world. We prepare for and reflect upon the Last Supper, the arrest, trial and crucifixion of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And we remember the ultimate triumph, the resurrection and Christ's victory over death. For me, I reflected on all this by going back and reading his very first sermon - The Sermon on the Mount found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7. This is the core theology of Jesus. The words were radical then and they may be even more radical today. I am particulary struck by the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:43-48.
"You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But, I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
What? You've got to be kidding me! Jesus was not kidding. Love. Your. Enemies. In our society today, one in which we have normalized, rationalized, and justified hate, how radical would it be to love our enemies instead? Have you ever prayed for an enemy before? I do not know that I have. The closest I think I came was from about 8th grade for me. Those who know me are aware that I played plenty of baseball as a kid. We enjoyed our share of success, but we had one team that we could not beat no matter what. We thought they were all obnoxious and a bunch of bums. Definitely not human. It was easy to make them an enemy. Then along about 8th grade, one of their players encountered a serious kidney illness that was going to require major medical attention. One night after our team had a baseball practice, we all loaded into our various coaches' cars and headed over to this young man's house to give him a couple of presents and to let him know that we were pulling for him. And we prayed for him. Right there in his bedroom, where he was basically bedridden. I hope that he felt blessed in those few moments that we spent with him. But, it changed me. I think for the first time I saw this young man, and all his teammates, as human. And in my own heart I sincerely wished for the best for him. Now, do not get me wrong - the next time we went out and played against these guys we wanted to beat the crap out of them. We failed, and they continued to have their hold over us. But I was changed.
Jesus told us to love our enemies. He did not say "Do not hate your enemies." That leaves a lot of room for indifference. He does not want us to be indifferent. He wants us to love our enemies. Who even is your enemy? The best I could come up with is that an enemy is someone who actively wants you to fail without any regard for you. In the big scheme of things, an opposing player is not an enemy, but a rival or an opponent.
These are tough words. "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Make no mistake that perfection is the standard. Have I lived up to it? Not even close. This is where grace comes in, but that is for another day. Love your enemies. I love my friends and family, particularly my immediate family. My kids, my friends, even my wife who has been deceased for several years now. And you want me to have the same feelings for my enemies that I have for those closest to me? And to demonstrate that love when called upon to do so? That's a tough ask, but that is what the Lord demands.
These words have been on my heart this week as I have re-read the Sermon on the Mount. I have read these words several times in my life, and it is easy to skim over the words and not give them much thought. Love your enemies. In today's world that is some radical thinking. I would encourage you to open your Bibles and read the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7. And really focus on the words of Jesus.
Finally, as for the opposing baseball player, he is very much alive today, and by all accounts has been quite successful in life. And I am truly happy for him.
