Love Your Enemies

"But I tell you: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." Gospel of Matthew 5:44

Undoubtedly, this is one of Christ's most scandalous sermons, not only then but now. And here's why: it contradicts human understanding of justice, to which we are accustomed. I imagine how during this sermon many people were amazed: "Turn the other cheek? Give not only your tunic? You are humiliated and you yield even more? Give without expecting anything in return and forgive the debt? Love your enemy, your offender and murderer?"

Friends, at these words on the human speedometer of justice, the needle falls beyond the permissible limit. All normal people will tell you: this is unjust and it's an unattainable ideal. Although many, like Leo Tolstoy—and not only he—have tried to do this. And I think many even succeed, but only because they have already trained themselves to dodge blows, avoid those who demand, and flee from those who wish to rob and not hear those who ask. They simply cannot have enemies. Their reality-detached life has spawned a new generation of sterile hypocrites who cannot have enemies because they keep pain at a distance from themselves. And such stoicism has nothing in common with living faith. The reality is that the principles of the Sermon on the Mount can be fulfilled only by those in whom the Son of God Himself and God's Kingdom dwell. Only His supernatural ability makes us capable of living contrary to human justice and earthly concepts. Without Him we cannot cope with real pain, despair, tragedy, and enemies. But He can accomplish the impossible in us!