I say to you that listen,
Love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who abuse you.
—Luke 6.27-28
God of love,
I call to mind my enemies.
I summon up your love for them and offer it humbly.
I call to mind those who are hurtful.
I pray for them, that their hearts may be healed,
for only wounded people wound others.
I call to mind those who abuse me or oppose me.
I pray for them, that they may know your blessing.
I call to mind those who do what I see as evil.
I pray for them, that their hearts may be brought back to life.
May I remember always the mystery
that my enemy and I are one; for all are one in you.
When I split myself from them
I am no different than when they split themselves
from those they reject or condemn.
In our condemning we betray our oneness;
we wound our own humanity.
Therefore even as I oppose them,
may I remember their wound, and honor our oneness.
May I see them, even those who are cruel,
as your beloved children.
Even as I must oppose people for the sake of justice,
may I stand against their injustice, but not against them;
may I stand beside them in your love,
even as I struggle to love them.
I pray grateful and trusting that even when I fail
you do not curse me, but love me and bless me.
By your spirit in me, help me, O God,
to love kindly, to do justice, to walk humbly with you,
in the spirit and company of Jesus.
Amen.
―February 18, 2019