The love does not meditate the evil (continued)

Old Testament prophets and other servants of God have sometimes meditated on evil. Jesus came to completely change this state of mind. He will say words that we must meditate :

"You have heard that it has been said : an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you not to resist the bad guy (...). You have heard that it has been said : You shall love your neighbor, and you shall hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heavens ; for he makes his sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and it rains upon the just and the unjust. If you love those who love you, what reward do you deserve ? Do not publicans do the same ? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing extraordinary ? Do not pagans do the same ? Be perfect then, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:38-39, 43-48).

If you sometimes meditate on your neighbor, think of Jesus' words. Nehemiah and the prophet Jeremiah have already prayed : "Do not forgive them !" But Jesus, on the cross, prayed : "Forgive them" (Luke 23:34), and since then he has occupied this place of intercessor for us. What Grace. Like Jesus, walking on the road of love that the Lord inaugurated for us, Stephen made the same prayer while being slain with stones. Stephen was deemed worthy to suffer for Christ.

David had a heart according to God and while Saul sought day after day to persecute and harm him, he continued to refuse to meditate on him. By the Holy Spirit we can love our enemies. We can come to the Lord and ask him to help us in our weaknesses. We can ask him to help us manifest the love he has put in our hearts. We can repent of having meditated on evil, and making progress in His wonderful love.

Jeremy Sourdril