You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. - Matthew 5:43-44You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. - Matthew 5:38-39
To those who are celebrating Easter today, I say "Rejoice, He is risen." To everyone, I commend the words, "Love your enemies." For me, this is one of the high points of Christianity. Rising above hatred has always been seen as a virtue by the wisest of each generation. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." The Buddha said, "Hate is never conquered by hate, Hate is only conquered by love." Because the word "enemy" carries the connotation of mutual hatred, I am inclined to use the phrase, "Love even those who hate you."
Today, in the land where Jesus was born, was crucified, and was reborn, there is much hatred. Consider praying for peace to enter the hearts of all those who are filled with anger, hate, and a compulsion for vengeance.
10 comments:
I am having a hard time doing this...even though I know I should make more of an effort. It is TOUGH!
I just did it I prayed for peace to enter the hearts of my family
Since the time I made up my mind never to hate many years ago, I have been the best for it. I carry less baggage and it easier for me to move on and think of a better future. People who do bad things don't spend time thinking about me, why should I give them power by spending my valuable time on earth hating and cheating myself. It is so easy to hurt people so they do take time to plan for me, they just do it. Why should waste my time hating? Forgive and look forward to a better future... let's move ON! To me that is a sign of strength, not weakness. You are not obliged to inform them anyway, just do it in your heart and you'll be better for it. It frees up space in your mind
to "Anonymous, Since the time..." Well said. Congratulations on overcoming hate and anger.
I love what Anonymous said about not hate. I find that I dont hate but do spend time on thinking about when people have hurt me. I know I shouldn't as they dont spend time on thinking about what they have done to me but its hard when you are so hurt. I am learning but something comes up and I start thinking again. What you have said I will use to help me as well as praying. With both I know I can do it again thank you.
Hate absorbs the energy from Love & Joy! Hate can linger & everything else diminishes because of this...Love & Joy is like sunshine in a day...We all saw what hate did on 911...Let's bring Joy, Light & Love into our daily lives, one day at a time, one nation at a time!
SA - Belmont
I used to think that if I didn't "get back at them" they would think I am so soft and absorbant that they could keep on hurting me (which was obviously true at the time, becuase I WAS hurt.) Once I made up my mind to forgive (which, to me means not wasting precious energy focusing on others' opinion of me, and to instead let people be, understanding that where they are at is just where they are at ... and wish them well), I tr to focus now on being the best ME that I was born to be. It's the only true strength, even when retaliation seems RIGHT. I do believe in assertively, calmy, lovingly standing up for ourselves, but no hatred ... get rid of that before you confront someone.
FOR 37 YRS MY STEP FATHER WAS A TYANT IN MY LIFE..JUST RECENTLY THE LORD TOLD ME TO LOVE HIM. I OF COURSE FORGAVE HIM, BUT I WAS STILL RESENTFUL. POINT IS..THIS CONTINUED TO BE A HINDRANCE IN MY LIFE SPIRIUALLY! I FELT HE NEEDED RETRIBUTION AND I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT WINDOW TO OPEN.. I WENT OFF ON HIM AND FINALLY LET HIM KNOW THE DAMAGE HIS ACTIONS HAVE CAUSED ME THROUGH MY LIFE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HELPS ANY ONE OR NOT BUT ONCE I CONFORNTED HIM AND TOLD HIM HOW WRONG HE WAS..THE HOLY SPIRIT TOOK HOLD OF THE SITUATION AND IT WASN'T TELL THEN THAT I COULD REALLY FORGIVE HIM. OOOH SUCH PEACE AND LOVE THAT ENTERED IN MY HEART!!!
Well my fiance left me. Although Im a christian, and loved him,and treated him good. I sometimes got so fed up with his demanding, mean ways I would lash out, by lash out I would say things like thats it, you gotta start treating me with respect, start appreciating me( and other choice words, no cursing, but mean things). I sometimes sent him angry txt messages, after he would ignore me, and be mean to me, I had to let him know I was hurt. I never meant it, I was just tring to show him I could be mean like him, and better, but I am just not made that way, Im just not. So once he left he got even more mean. Let me say he was sensitive,and kind until he got mad, then he turned into a beast. So now that he is gone, I come to realize he needs love, because he is so full of hate sometimes. He doesnt call, he is with another woman, he is mean to me most times, and I just love him, and love him more. Oh sometimes it hurts so bad, so so bad, but I believe the Lord will allow him to won over by Love.
I recently had a dispute with a 'friend'. Actually, to begin with, the relationship started off with misunderstanding back in September. We just closed off from each other since that misunderstanding. At one point, I felt it was stupid and sad that we started off on wrong grounds, so I decided to take initiative to make things right. With patience and time, she became more open and at one point, we became friends. However, recently, I just couldn't stand it anymore, whether it was because I was scared or tired, I'm not sure. I felt like I have to make so much effort to make it work it just wasn't right. Friendships shouldn't be so hard. So I decided to help her one last time, to the best of my ability and bid farewell. Ironically, she came back because of that, but because I left..she was disappointed. When I realize and decided to make it work again, I became hurt. She was bad mouth talking in front of me, of people we mutually know. That's the primary principle for me to cross someone off. If you have a problem, say it to my face. I was completely hurt by that. I will never forget those 5 words she said, "she worked for me though". This entire time, she thought I was working for her, when I was coming from a complete different perspective, thinking it was on mutual grounds that we decided to work on it together...not like one is a slave and other to be pleased. I am very angry and hurt by what she said. This entire time I was fooled to believe these past few months of repairing was mutually based on love. I was fooled to end up caring for someone I shouldn't be caring for. I am angry and hurt.
Thinking back, I can try to understand why she did that. She may feel like I've hurt her so much that her anger was a result of the hurt feelings she's had. And perhaps like "Anonymous October 30 2009, 9:58am" said, she may too be feeling like she doesn't want to be soft, and that she can be even more powerful than me when she decides to be angry. I'm sorry for how all this turned out. I get an intuitive sense to repair things, but am completely out of ideas. I do choose to forgive, to accept my responsibility in how this turned out, and to wish for peace and love for her, and for me. I do believe the quote Buddha said, "Hate is conquered by love". I don't know how that can happen now, it seems all the possible cards have already been turned, but I do believe in God's power and in angels' ingenious solutions. Maybe that means to just leave this be, or some solutions to fix things, who knows. I have faith and trust in God's almighty power to carry everything for everyone's highest good.
Thank you for posting this message and letting everyone share their thoughts on this wall. Reading all these comments and typing this out really helps.
If anyone have advice on this situation, it would be greatly appreciated :)
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