arunangelo
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Posts: 49
I'm a llama!
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« on: May 24, 2005, 09:44:20 PM » |
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Since true love is unconditional and selfless, true love goes beyond friends and relatives (who are our own, whom we like, who have either helped us in the past or from whom we expect to get something in return). According to Jesus (Luke 6:27-25) we must love our enemy, do good deeds to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. If anyone slaps us on one cheek, we must let him hit the other one too. We must give to everyone who asks for something; because, God is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. We must be merciful, just as our Father is merciful (Luke 6: 35-36). We must remember that mercy triumphs over law (James 2; 13); and it is mercy, and not sacrifice, that God desires (Matt. 12:7). We must not take revenge on those who do us wrong. If someone takes us to court to sue us for our shirt, we must let him have our coat as well. We must walk an additional mile if the occupation forces ask us to carry their pack for one mile (Matt 5; 39-41). If anyone borrows something from us we must not ask for it back (Luke 6:27-30). We must be willing to lay down our life for others, including for those who cause us grave hurt; just as God in His Divine mercy sacrificed His life for us, although we gravely hurt Him (by our sins).
The above paragraph tells us that, we have to love our enemies by our actions, and to be merciful to them. It further tells us that, we should not offer resistance to injustice. We may think that, if we do not offer resistance to injustice, we might help to increase injustice. In reality however, when we do not offer resistance and offer love instead, we can change the hearts of those who are unjust. Generally people are unjust and selfish, because they are insecure. When we offer resistance, their sense of insecurity increases and they become more unjust. On the other hand, when we do not offer resistance, they do not feel threatened. Their sense of insecurity therefore, diminishes, and they become open to receiving our love. This love then, can change their hearts to make them just people. More often than not, we fight injustice done to us or hurt inflicted to us, by taking revenge and protecting our own interest. This makes us hateful and selfish. On the other hand, when we go out of our way to help our enemies, we cultivate love. When we fight for our rights, self consumes us. This makes us selfish. When we are selfish we remove ourselves from God. This takes peace out of our hearts. On the other hand when we offer love to our offenders, we find peace; because to act in love, is to be in unison with God. Only love can overcome all obstacles and bring true peace, because, God is Love; and nothing is impossible with Him. When we doubt that love alone can solve all the problems in the World, we doubt God.
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