Reflections on . . . Luke 6:27-36: Loving our enemies

US president Abraham Lincoln was once observed dealing with a soldier of the Confederate army with a generous measure of kindness. For this action, he was chided by one of the officers of the Union army. This adviser suggested emphatically that he ought to be destroying his enemies rather than treating them with kindness.

Lincoln's response was: "Am I not destroying my enemies by being kind to them?"

Lincoln understood one of the main Christian principles that we so often find it extremely difficult to adhere to. Our error comes in following our human instincts rather than discipling ourselves to do what Jesus taught. It's human to want to retaliate when wronged. We've all experienced those kinds of feelings, and it's safe to assume that we have also acted on these inner urgings in more instances than we'd care to admit to.

How much more beneficial it would be if we could suppress such emotions and bring our actions into compliance with Jesus' teachings. We might not succeed in converting all of our enemies. But our actions would in some positive way affect our antagonists--and would give us the satisfaction of knowing that our loving heavenly Father would approve.

This one is by Garry E. Chartier of Nanaimo, B.C.

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