Love Your Enemies

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It was 1976 when singer/songwriter James Taylor first sang to us, “Shower the people you love with love.” This uplifting song is a good reminder to not take our loved ones for granted. Christ would tell us, though, to take our love to a higher level – to ‘love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ 

The kind of love Christ commands us to offer to others is selfless and compassionate. This love wants what is good for the other person, while expecting nothing in return. There is no ulterior motive; we have nothing to gain from their good fortune. This kind of love involves praying not only for the well-being of those we love, but praying also for the well-being of our ‘enemies’ – those who, for example, have caused us some kind of pain or who antagonize us. This isn’t easy to do on our own, but we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). And so we love the nosy neighbor, the people who attack us for our political views, and the narrow-minded coworker who belittles us. 

We love and pray for our enemies, in part, because doing so cracks open the door of our heart to Christ’s grace and makes us more compassionate toward them. In other words, praying for them changes us – we move closer to Christ and become more like Him. Also, when we love our enemies, they may see the love God has for them through our actions – and that might change their heart, too.

Let me clarify that loving our enemies does not mean putting ourselves in harm’s way. In some cases, we may have to distance ourselves from certain individuals to protect ourselves physically, mentally, or emotionally. Some relationships are beyond repair, but we can still love the other person – we can still want what is good for them and pray for them instead of cursing them. 

Lent gives us the opportunity to strengthen our resolve to love not only those who love us but to love our enemies as well, and to grow closer to Christ by doing so. If you’re longing for a closer relationship with Christ and are feeling spiritually stagnant, consider participating in a Lenten church service such as the Stations of the Cross, or look online for a Lenten speaker series. These may give you a deeper understanding of Christ’s love for you and strengthen you to go out of your comfort zone – to shower love not only on those who love you, but on all you come in contact with. 

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” 

– Matthew 5:44 

Open my eyes, that I may see You. Open my ears, that I may hear You. Open my heart, that I may love You in the people around me.

Thank you for reading my reflection.  All thanks to God for giving me the ideas and guiding my words!    © 2025 Gina Bedell   

  

Through these reflections, I invite you, the reader, to reflect on a given topic and then seek deeper answers through prayer, additional spiritual reading, and/or consultation with clergy or other qualified persons in order to grow in your faith and understanding of God’s love and will for your life. 

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P.S.

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