Holy Spirit of God help me not resist but reach beyond evil doers into your mercy...

Matthew 5:38-48
                                                          
During his ministry on earth, Jesus hit the “refresh” button to restore our connections not only with God, and with our selves, but also with others.  In the course of our lives there is no shortage of evil doers that cross our paths – people participating in pointless passions, or being sucked into the black hole of violence, and all styles of hatred - and ultimately self-destruction. It is human nature to resist such people, but while the Lord counsels us to resist evil, he taught us to love the doers of evil. This is the ‘Glad News’ that Jesus proclaimed. Instead of spending time and energy resisting those who are doing evil, returning punch for punch, Jesus counsels his followers to look beyond the behaviour of others who are themselves caught up in the grab for power, for control, and for belonging, and return good for evil, kindness and companionship for arrogance, and generosity for thievery. This “reset” of any human action, no matter how violent, can bring about the restoration of human dignity and the re-alignment of human hearts with the holiness and mercy of their Creator. Jesus’ death on a cross was the ultimate example of the principle of “love your enemies” at work.  Do I have the courage to trust the counsel of Jesus, to do good to those who do evil, love my enemies, and pray for those who do evil against me? Holy Spirit of God, help me not resist but reach beyond evil doers, into the depths of your mercy.
 
But all who will find safety in you will rejoice.  (Psalm 5:11)  
 
The more humble and obedient to God a man is, the more wise and at peace he will be in all that he does.
 Thomas à Kempis, The Inner Life
 
 
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Soli ad gloriam Dei