Is it possible to love someone you don’t like? Is it possible to love someone while still disagreeing? Do you have to agree with someone before you can love him or her? Can you love someone while not liking what that person believes? This is not an academic question. In 21st century America, we’re each surrounded by people who don’t think the way we think. And, according to Jesus, his followers will be known by how they love their enemies. This week we talk about how. Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48 1 Peter 3:8-9 References: Martin Luther King, Jr. on loving our enemies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhMNr9NtSD0. Elias Chacour: “Children,” he said softly, turning those sad eyes upon us, “if someone hurts you, you can curse him. But this would be useless. Instead, you have to ask the Lord to bless the man who makes himself your enemy. And do you know what will happen? The Lord will bless you with inner peace—and perhaps your enemy will turn from his wickedness. If not, the Lord will deal with him….” Father’s other response to the sale of his land was more of a wonder to me. In a few weeks we heard that the new owner of our property wanted to hire several men to come each day and dress the fig trees, tending them right through till harvest. Immediately, Father went to apply for the job, taking my three oldest brothers with him. They were hired and granted special work passes, the only way they could enter our own property. When she heard what Father had done, Mother stared at him incredulously, “How can you do this, Michael? It’s so awful. So wrong.” Father replied simply, “If we go to care for the trees, we’ll do the best job. Someone else won’t know what they are doing. They’ll break the branches and spoil the new growth.” This was something Father could not bear to think. And so, three years after our expulsion from Biram, Father and my brothers were hiring themselves out as laborers—just for the chance to touch and care for Father’s beloved trees. I did not know the word irony then, but I could understand pain. -from Blood Brothers, by Elias Chacour
