The love that God demands us to do is difficult. It is unlike what the world offers and expects us to do.
In the Gospels, Jesus said a lot about the love of God and that we should love each other. In Matthew 5:43ff, Jesus tells us about the old style of doing things and His new radical demand for His followers.
First, love your neighbor and love your enemy as well.
Matthew 5:43-45a says, “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.”
Without the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives we cannot love our enemies and pray for their welfare. But with the grace of Jesus Christ, we can do it through the Holy Spirit working in our lives.
Start praying for your enemies and you will see the difference. God can do wonders in your life and the life of your enemies.
Loving your enemies does not necessarily mean that you should like them. Loving your enemies means desiring what is good for them not harming them nor plotting for a revenge.
Second, Jesus wants us to change our perspective.
Matthew 5:45b-47 says, “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?”
Jesus demands a radical change in the perspective of Christians. We need to see people in the eyes of God. We need to do away with racism and bigotry. Jesus is telling to love the whole creation of God and not just people who has the same color and beliefs than us.
Let us go out and show the radical love of Jesus Christ!
May God bless us all!
Sincerely,
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Director, Office of Communications