Daily Reflection Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

To prepare for my weekly reflection, I usually begin reading the passage about seven days out. I read and reread it looking for something that will jump out at me and cause me to pause and ponder. I really struggled with this passage all week. There is so much happening in the world right now that is terribly sad. How can Jesus ask me to love my enemies and pray for my persecutors? I was discussing this with my husband, and he just looked at me and said, “who is your enemy?” I was immediately silent. I could not answer him.

Shortly after my husband stunned me to silence, something he probably wishes he could do more ha-ha, I tried to call to mind my enemies. Guess how many I came up with? None, not one person could I truly label my enemy. Now don’t get me wrong, there are people I fundamentally disagree with on several issues but not to the point where I could say I hate you. That realization gave me some sense of peace, but I still felt some unease in the love your enemy’s concept. Then a commercial came on whose theme was hate. A former speech writer for Dr. Martin Luther King said he sometimes imagines what he would write today for his dear friend Martin. Then he said he would remind people that all hate thrives on one thing, silence. He said the people who will cause change and make a difference are those who speak out. He said when we refuse to be bystanders, when raise our voices against injustice and stand up to silence, we are standing up to all hate. 

So maybe Jesus is challenging us to raise our voices in prayer and to come together peacefully to stand up to the injustices in our world. We have some significant role models in Dr. King, Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day and of course the most peaceful, prayerful and forgiving of all our role models, Jesus. 

While I may never be perfect like my heavenly Father, I can perfect my prayer life by raising my voice in prayer for those who wish to create chaos in this world. Care to join me?