“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES !”
GOSPEL READING : John 13. 31-35

An African wisdom says : “Somebody who really loves you doesn’t look you straight in the face but his eyes will first look at your stomach”. This to mean that when one visits us we should first hurry to serve him some food and water before sitting and talk and talk. This is a little bit different with some western customs. One thing we know is that Jesus taught his Disciples to give and give and always give. But is that the only way to show our love towards the others ?

From Matthew 5:43-45, Jesus teaches the following : “ You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”(NIV).

A certain soldier was made captive by the enemies his king’s army was fighting. For many years, these two kings had been attacking one the other frequently and once captives were caught on one or the other sides, they were simply killed within seven days if 10 hobbyhorses were not paid as a ransom. Unfortunately, the captive soldier was now aware that his king had decided not to do so any longer because all his best hobbyhorses had been almost already sent to his enemy. Hence, the captive soldier who was a Christian said to himself: “I know this king is not a Christian believer and so are all his people. Thus, before they kill me, I’ll do whatever I can to teach these people what true love is. Perhaps this will help them stop attacking my country in the future.”

The first day he woke up very early under the morning cold and sang christian songs and prayed loudly for this enemy unbeliever nation, saying : “Oh, Almighty God, I know you love this nation and her people and their so great and powerful king. Oh, God, may you bless them with enough rain so that they may make a big corn and wheat harvest they had never got in the past.” The prison guards heard him praying so during two days and they reported it to the higher Officer who sent the information to the king, saying:
– Your majesty, the king, live forever! The captive soldier we caught during our recent battle against our neighbour nation is praying eagerly early every morning, asking his Almighty God, as he says, to bless you and our people and also bless our country with enough rain so that we may make a great corn and wheat harvest we had never had in the past. And he keeps doing so all days long.

The king replied and said: “Let’s wait and see. We have not had any rains in this country since a whole year and people and herds are dying every day while all the rivers are running dry and our vegetation getting wither. If it happens that we get some rain before his execution day, I’ll know that this captive soldier is a true Christian and I’ll release him immediately.” The captive soldier continued praying the same way every day and night and on the fifth day, there was a big storm upon the whole country with rains and floods all over the plains. Bridges were broken and roads damaged and many houses destroyed. The king afraid, asked his officer guards to bring the captive soldier at his court and he told him the following: “Why is your Almighty God doing such terrible things while we only needed enough rain to allow our crops grow ?”

The captive soldier answered and said : “Your majesty the king, live forever ! My Almighty God is simply doing so because He wants to sweep away the curse that prevailed upon your nation and then pour His infinite blessings on you and your people. He is the One who commanded me “TO LOVE AND PRAY FOR MY ENEMIES” and I have obeyed His Word !” The captive soldier was released the same day and as he had wished it, no more war was recorded between the two rival nations.

Dear Christian Brethren, why aren’t showing our love towards our enemies through PRAYING FOR THEM ? If Jesus has commanded us “To love and PRAY for our enemies and those who persecute us”, it is simply because God has a special blessing to give them and hence bless His Holy Church in this world. Instead of wasting time with discussions and meetings about what should be done to stop terrorism invade our free nations, LET US SIMPLY SPEND OUR TIME KNEELING AND PRAYING just like the captive soldier:

“Oh, Almighty God, we know you love all who try to destroy our nations and cities. Oh God, may you bless them with RAINS OF PEACE and HOPE IN THEIR HEARTS so that they may harvest LOVE and GOODNESS to share with others. Amen!

In Christ’s love

Bishop, Dr. Justin Baransananikiye
President,
CHRISTIANS STRENGTHENING CHRISTIANS,
http://iprayforyou.worthyofpraise.org
http://christiansstrengtheningchristian.doodlekit.com/blog
Email : baransajust@gmail.com