43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies[b] and pray for those who[c] persecute you, 45 so that you may be[d] children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what are you doing out of the ordinary?[e] Don’t even the Gentiles[f] do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Reflection
5:43-45 To love your enemies (5:44) is to reflect the character of your Father in heaven (5:45). There are certain blessings that he gives to all people. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good (5:45). You don’t have to be a Christian to feel the sunshine and to breathe oxygen.
5:48 To be perfect as God is perfect does not mean to be sinless; rather, it means to love others—in the power of the Holy Spirit—by seeking their best interests as a reflection of God’s character. Loving your neighbor doesn’t require having warm and fuzzy feelings for him or her; it means seeking their well-being.
I did a Google Search for “what causes hate in today’s world” and received this AI Overview.
Hate today is caused by a combination of personal fears and insecurities, societal factors like misinformation and echo chambers, and historical or cultural prejudices. Individuals may feel threatened by change or economic stress, leading to a desire to blame others. Meanwhile, online platforms and a lack of empathy can amplify these feelings, spreading hate more easily.
In the Social and Cultural factors, I found this:
- Misinformation and online amplification: The internet and social media can spread hate rapidly through echo chambers and false narratives, especially when hateful rhetoric from public figures normalizes it.
- Lack of education and empathy: Ignorance and a lack of exposure to different cultures and viewpoints can lead to misunderstanding and fear.
- Group and political polarization: Groups of people that are structured around competition and “us vs. them” mentalities make it easier to demonize those who are different or do not agree.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
In my life I regularly meet people, who I know personally, who say that they hate things and certain people or groups. Often it is because the subject is a terrible thing, action, or deed that produces anger at the hateful.
What do you encounter in your world?
“Loving your neighbor means seeking their well-being” is a phrase that I feel that I can live into, with God’s help. It is even important to me. I say that because if all I can feel about another person, say a person who is doing something hurtful, is negative thoughts, how can I pray for them that the Holy Spirit would be present and touch their heart.
What is your life like? Are you able to step back and think about something that you have heard before accepting it?
Prayer: Almighty God, you have created all people and all of creation. We give you thanks for the gift of discernment and your invitation to engage with hope, joy and love as your disciples. Open our hearts and our eyes to see our communities as you would have us to see them. Help us to find courage to sit and hear others when we so often want to be heard first. You are good and you are gracious, O God. Let us see all people as children of you, who created us all. It is in the name Jesus Christ, we pray, amen.
