The biggest challenge? To love our enemies..
Why?
It comes so natural to ask ourselves why so much violence and brutality.
How can we humans created in the image of God
(Genesis 1:26) hate so much to destroy the gift of life for our brothers in the name of God himself?
Which father or mother would like to have a family always quarrelling , without peace and in continuous hostility and hatred?
If we could really imagine the world as one big family then things would get better. God the Father since the Old Testament taught us to love those who are not so nice to us (enemies) and has promised His intervention:
If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat;
and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink;
for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,
and the Lord will reward you.
Proverbs 25:21-22
But then we should not take the law into our own hands? Should we rely only on our prayers?
Or follow the old rule of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?
Instead, Jesus teaches us:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate 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.
Matthew 5:43-45
Evidently human logic is the opposite of the divine one, that’s why Saint Ignatius advises us the golden rule of ‘Agere Contra, that is to do the opposite of temptation.
Then responding to why so much evil done in the world instead of hating our enemies pray for them … Yes, of course it is a sacrifice, is the annihilation of ourselves in order to save those who have hurt us and destroy the evil at its root.
Jesus lived this on his own body and asks each one of us to change the attitude toward those who do not treat us nicely , not only for our sanctification but for the one of the whole world.
Let’s try to put into practice the rule of Saint Ignatius?
25th International Prayer Marathon
We pray for our enemies
26-27-28 February 2015
pray with us!
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