Feb. 28, "Was Jesus serious about loving our enemies?"

In one of his most difficult teachings, Jesus instructs listeners to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.  In so doing, he says, we become like God.  And to the degree we are able to love perfectly, we are becoming perfect, even as God is perfect.

What are you striving for during this season of Lent?  Given Jesus’s teaching on loving our enemies, what does it mean to be “holy”?  What is the measure of spiritual maturity?

Matthew 5:43-48  (NRSV) 43‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so 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. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.