Enemy Embrace

Copyright ABC News

What does it mean to love your enemy?

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? - Matthew 5:44-46

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples to go the extra mile, to reach across the divide and embrace your enemy as you would someone you love.

I saw that play out yesterday as the leaders of North and South Korea shook hands and embraced each other on their border, and then symbolically stepped over so each stood on the soil of his enemy.

We may be skeptical about the prospects for peace in the region, but what have we to lose?

I don’t believe Jesus was talking only to his disciples.  I think he wants all of us to stop acting like children and start being true children of God.

If we can see each other as God sees us, how much better will our lives be?  

Sometimes we are not willing to come together because we feel we will be taken advantage of.  If we can get over that, imagine what we can do?

Once we see our enemy as our equal, we might as well come to terms with him.

More to come...