Pathways Press.com

Written by Patrick van der Vorst, a priest, writer, and founder of the Christian Art website, which offers a daily Gospel Reading paired with a related work of art and short reflection.

In today’s conflict-ridden world, loving our enemies can seem an impossible task. The phrase “love your enemy” is often cited by those who portray Jesus as an unrealistic idealist, disconnected from the harsh realities of life…On 17^th December 1957, Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed this very question, stating: “Far from being an impractical idealist, Jesus has become the practical realist. The words of this text glitter in our eyes with a new urgency. Far from being the pious injunction of a utopian dreamer, this command is an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization—love even for enemies.” King further elaborated: “How do you go about loving your enemies? I think the first thing is this: In order to love your enemies, you must begin by analyzing self…To truly love others, we must first embrace and cherish the unique selves that God has lovingly created in each of us.”

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. [Luke 6:27]