Reflection for Saturday, March 10, 2001: 1st week in Lent.
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Authors
Scritchfield, Shirley
Issue Date
2001-03-10
Type
Essay
Language
en_US
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Abstract
". . . I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5: 44|When I first looked at my reflection assignment, I was struck by God's timing in seeing to it that I got this set of scriptures. For at this very moment, I find myself struggling with just this issue. What follows is the prayer of lament that poured out of me as I reflected upon God's call to not only love those who love us in return, but to love those who do us harm.|Love my enemies-|God, where and how do I get the strength to do that --in the face of such ugliness and antagonism, --in the face of such violence to my being, --in the face of such abusive power and injustice --not just to me . . . but, more importantly, to those whose voices I seek to make heard?|I just don't know, God . . . You ask so much. And today it feels like too much. I feel so alone . . . and hurt . . . and betrayed . . . and angry . . . and . . . .??|Yet, there is nowhere to go. I cannot walk away. You who made me didn't give me the "wiring" to do so. Instead, you placed within my heart the flame of justice and a sense of profound love for the marginalized. You wrote on the fiber of my being an indelible commitment to the voices and lives obscured and drowned out by the loud clatter of invisible power and privilege.|God, you graced me with this enormous sense of responsibility to use my gifts and skills to do justice -to cause (or try to cause) others to see the effects of what they do. But, today it does not feel like grace, It feels like a curse, a knife striking at the heart of my soul.|God, what do I do with the pain . . . and the anger at what is being done? God, how do I love my enemies? Take my hand, show me the way. At this moment, I know not how to do as you ask.|I pray it may be so.
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Citation
Publisher
University Ministry, Creighton University.
License
These reflections may not be sold or used commercially without permission. Personal or parish use is permitted.