An Enemy Loved
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle A
"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; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" (vv. 43--47)
As a minister, I am called to love my neighbor and to love my enemies. As a member of the human race, I find it's not always easy. A case in point is a woman in a previous congregation. I'll call her Sally to shield her identity although it's hardly necessary. Sally has done so many unique mean--spirited things it would be nearly impossible not to recognize her if you know her. It's hard to forget a seventy--something squatty little bulldog of a woman with an eternal scowl on her face. Her photo in our church directory looks like she could jump out of the picture any minute and rip your heart out. She is so angry and bitter that I'm not sure her tough exterior doesn't go to the core. I've often said you could designate a day in her honor, and Sally would find some reason to complain about it.
I know these words sound harsh, but let her actions paint a picture of her for you. Not long after I met her, we were in a church meeting. I mentioned that we needed a teacher for an ongoing Bible study. A retired minister promptly volunteered. Sally, who was sitting behind him, responded loudly and belligerently. "No. No. No. No. No." Her response sounded like a freight train if your ear was directly on the whistle. One "no" would have been sufficient to express her opinion. I guess the others were for emphasis. I'm not sure about the cause of the protest since she didn't even attend the Bible study.
Twice during the celebration of our church's "joys" in our worship service, she went in attack mode and griped me out for something she felt I mishandled. Some joy. It embarrassed most of the church members, and I hate to think what the episode impressed upon our visitors. However, it also garnered the usual response, "That's just Sally." It was our feeble attempt to act like we are addressing the problem when we were not.
But the zenith of her dysfunction occurred following a church meeting. Once again Sally verbally attacked another church member in a meeting. The victim this time was a frail, elderly woman pushing ninety. This offended the victim's son who was also in the meeting. The son, a large man in his late fifties, foolishly followed Sally to her car and insisted on an explanation as to why she hated his mother. As she got into her car, she responded, "I don't hate your mother."
But as my mama used to say, "Actions speak louder than words." It was obvious Sally hated his mother. It was obvious Sally hated everything and everybody. The son still insisted on an answer and positioned himself between Sally and the still open car door. Sally was now stuck. She couldn't close her door, and therefore, couldn't close the conversation. I don't know what Sally was thinking, or if she was thinking. But she reached up and punched the 250--pound man in the nose. The man was stunned. Sally closed her door and drove off.
It's hard to love Sally. But God said to love your enemies, so I prayed for Sally - often, very often. I do my Christian duty, you know. One Sunday though, my wife, Hadley, reminded me what loving an enemy really means. Hadley was sitting in worship and was compelled to say three important words to Sally. She went to Sally during our "meeting and greeting" time, and said, "I love you." Sally couldn't have been more stunned had it been a punch in the nose. She murmured something like, "Oh, yeah, well uh." Then Hadley interrupted her stammering, "I just thought you should know that you are loved." Quietly, Hadley walked away.
It was a reminder to me that when God asks us to love our neighbors, actions speak louder than prayers. Sure, we are supposed to pray. But we're also supposed to act. We should not only tell people we love them, but also show them. Who's your enemy? Have you told them you love them - and meant it?
I don't know how much of it had to do with Hadley's words, but Sally has become a changed person. She offers input instead of insults in meetings now. What a testimony of God's redeeming grace that transforms us into new creations.
As a minister, I am called to love my neighbor and to love my enemies. As a member of the human race, I find it's not always easy. A case in point is a woman in a previous congregation. I'll call her Sally to shield her identity although it's hardly necessary. Sally has done so many unique mean--spirited things it would be nearly impossible not to recognize her if you know her. It's hard to forget a seventy--something squatty little bulldog of a woman with an eternal scowl on her face. Her photo in our church directory looks like she could jump out of the picture any minute and rip your heart out. She is so angry and bitter that I'm not sure her tough exterior doesn't go to the core. I've often said you could designate a day in her honor, and Sally would find some reason to complain about it.
I know these words sound harsh, but let her actions paint a picture of her for you. Not long after I met her, we were in a church meeting. I mentioned that we needed a teacher for an ongoing Bible study. A retired minister promptly volunteered. Sally, who was sitting behind him, responded loudly and belligerently. "No. No. No. No. No." Her response sounded like a freight train if your ear was directly on the whistle. One "no" would have been sufficient to express her opinion. I guess the others were for emphasis. I'm not sure about the cause of the protest since she didn't even attend the Bible study.
Twice during the celebration of our church's "joys" in our worship service, she went in attack mode and griped me out for something she felt I mishandled. Some joy. It embarrassed most of the church members, and I hate to think what the episode impressed upon our visitors. However, it also garnered the usual response, "That's just Sally." It was our feeble attempt to act like we are addressing the problem when we were not.
But the zenith of her dysfunction occurred following a church meeting. Once again Sally verbally attacked another church member in a meeting. The victim this time was a frail, elderly woman pushing ninety. This offended the victim's son who was also in the meeting. The son, a large man in his late fifties, foolishly followed Sally to her car and insisted on an explanation as to why she hated his mother. As she got into her car, she responded, "I don't hate your mother."
But as my mama used to say, "Actions speak louder than words." It was obvious Sally hated his mother. It was obvious Sally hated everything and everybody. The son still insisted on an answer and positioned himself between Sally and the still open car door. Sally was now stuck. She couldn't close her door, and therefore, couldn't close the conversation. I don't know what Sally was thinking, or if she was thinking. But she reached up and punched the 250--pound man in the nose. The man was stunned. Sally closed her door and drove off.
It's hard to love Sally. But God said to love your enemies, so I prayed for Sally - often, very often. I do my Christian duty, you know. One Sunday though, my wife, Hadley, reminded me what loving an enemy really means. Hadley was sitting in worship and was compelled to say three important words to Sally. She went to Sally during our "meeting and greeting" time, and said, "I love you." Sally couldn't have been more stunned had it been a punch in the nose. She murmured something like, "Oh, yeah, well uh." Then Hadley interrupted her stammering, "I just thought you should know that you are loved." Quietly, Hadley walked away.
It was a reminder to me that when God asks us to love our neighbors, actions speak louder than prayers. Sure, we are supposed to pray. But we're also supposed to act. We should not only tell people we love them, but also show them. Who's your enemy? Have you told them you love them - and meant it?
I don't know how much of it had to do with Hadley's words, but Sally has become a changed person. She offers input instead of insults in meetings now. What a testimony of God's redeeming grace that transforms us into new creations.
