And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. — Luke 6:31-36
In this gospel passage Jesus says quite a remarkable thing. He tells us that simple love is not the full measure of being a Christian, rather, it is who and how we love that serves as a witness to the Gospel. Jesus says: "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." Even sinners – those who reject God, those who are enemies not only to us, but also to the Most High – love those who love them. Sinners love their children. They are loved by their mothers. Sinners love puppies or at least cats. Adolph Hitler was adored by his nephews and nieces.
One does not need to know God to love and be loved. Loving and being loved in themselves are not signs of being a Christian. In fact, many times it is quite the opposite! Being unappreciated, despised, ignored, or left out as a result standing up for the Gospel but still responding with patience, understanding and generosity is the mark of being a Christian. We are not called to merely love only those who are like us. Our love, says the Lord, must go further. Our love must be without expectation of love in return... the kind of love we would receive from our enemies.
Many people we meet may have nothing spiritually or materially to offer back. Not everyone has the means, knowledge or discernment to give back. Gratitude is something we all take for granted. But in reality, gratitude is rarely returned in the quality or quantity that we desire.
Jesus sets the rules. "Do good. Lend, hoping for nothing in return. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful." If we love according to these rules we can speak the truths of the Gospel. If we can love as God does, "even unto the unthankful and the evil" we would have love that is potent. Our acts would convert, soften hearts, and awaken those who ears have not heeded the call of the Lord. It could make enemies aware of their sin, anger, apathy, coldness, hatred... in other words, it could make them aware of their distance from God and lead them to repentance. Loving our enemies may just make them stop being our enemies. Then again, it might not. If you love them and continue giving to them, even stubbornly, without expecting anything in return, you may still receive nothing!
However, the person who is mean to you or treats you unjustly may be receptive to Christ because of you. At the very least you will receive your reward from God, who never forgets to repay kindness with kindness, especially to those who cooperate in His work of re-making all human beings into His sons and daughters. God will bless you all the more if you realize this and keep plugging away.
In the statement, "Christians love their enemies" the verb, love, is not the most important word to describe Christians. It really doesn’t tell or teach us that much. Rather it is the direct object of that verb, their enemies, that describes what true Christianity is by describing what the Christian does.
It is not easy to take the high road and love those who cause us pain. This is where steadfast prayer and faith in God will help live our lives according to His will and achieve peace for our souls. Let us always remember the power of love as Saint Paul preached to the Corinthians, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)