By Col Dencio Acop (Ret), PhD
My Reflections on Matthew 5: 43-48
How do we love our enemies as Jesus taught? Are we even capable of loving them?
‘Easier said than done!’ This is a common phrase we often hear. Jesus taught us many life-changing lessons through His words. It is clear from the passage that Jesus went further from the Old Testament teaching when He challenged those who were listening to Him to not only love relatives and friends but their enemies as well. It is hard teaching. It was hardly acceptable then. It remains to be almost impossible to follow even today. No clearer illustration is social media. Especially in this time of quarantine and isolation due to the pandemic. We have no problem exchanging pleasantries with online friends but we can get so ticked off by even just a single blogger who posts a disagreeing comment strongly opposed to ours! Why is that? And our response to that poster is precisely where Jesus challenges us to demonstrate our love, among others.
To be honest, there were times I lost my cool and had responded in almost the same vile language as was dished out towards me. On some occasions, I had even unfriended one or two since I concluded that they were simply incorrigible in their views. Now, I realize that I could have responded in the ways of love that my Lord taught me. I could have controlled my negative emotions and responded with a positive vibe. I could have not responded at all which was better than reacting with rageful language. I could have just unfollowed than unfriended him. These challenges persist in almost every situation we find ourselves in: on the road with reckless motorists, arguments with unforgiving relatives, people who hurt us, corrupt government officials, Arrogant foreigners, etc. The list just goes on.
And therefore, the corollary question that begs to answer is: Are we even capable of loving our ‘enemies’? Who are your enemies? Who are mine? Are we capable of turning our other cheek when we get hurt by others? Did we? Did we not fight back? Once we really discern what Jesus meant by loving our enemies, we cannot but become aware of our seeming powerlessness against the impulse of retaliation. As revenge appears to make much sense when we are abused by others.
Sometimes, revenge even gets confused with self-defense, the right to hit back for self-preservation. As one who served in the military, I believe in the Just War Theory that men are justified to kill other men to save their lives and those of their countrymen. But Jesus seemed very specific about even this theory when He admonished Peter in the garden that those who live by the sword will perish by it. Jesus’ true teaching seems to be: Love all unconditionally. This includes our enemies. The people who hurt your body, even kill it. The persons who hurt your feelings. Those who steal from you. Lie to you. Cheat you. Or allow these hurts to be inflicted upon you.
Jesus actually teaches the path of non-violence when it comes to loving other human beings. That the greatest love is that demonstrated relative to the people who hate us. It points towards the giving away of oneself not only to one’s spouse, children, or relatives; but, even more so, the sacrificing of one’s good in favor of the undeserving. This is what the Lord appears to be saying to all of us who profess to believe in Him. He who is the Source of all that is good and beautiful. Who created the universe by loving it into being! Him who is Love personified. And precisely our reaction to this would be that loving our enemies would be almost impossible then because it is just so difficult to follow. Then, the Lord will say: Exactly! Right on the mark, you are! Pointing to the Cross, He reminds the unbelieving believer: Do not worry or fear! I got you!