The Message, February 23, 2025: "Who Do We Love?" Luke 6:27-38

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
February 25, 2025

 

“Who Do We Love?”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Luke 6:27-38

            Last Sunday, we began an exploration of Luke’s Gospel account of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Plain.” Since you were all watching at home, you were able to pause the service and take thorough notes. So, I am sure that you are all well-versed on those opening verses … right?

            Well … just in case you misplaced your notes, let us recap briefly.

            After some time up on the mountain selecting his apostles, Jesus went down to the plain where he was surrounded by a mob of people hoping to be healed. Power flowed forth from him and everyone was made well. Then Jesus looked up and spoke to his disciples … those who decided to follow him and follow his Way.

            He began with four blessings:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven, for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”

            And then he offered four woes:

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
“Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
“Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.”

            As he spoke, he was offering those who wished to be his followers … his disciples … the lesson plan for the Way, or the foundation upon which their lives would be built. And then he offered the instruction that we heard this morning. He offered us what may be the most difficult instruction with which his disciples will struggle.

            “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)

            It should stop us dead in our tracks and really cause us to spend some time in deep reflection. We are used to hearing Jesus say to, “Love God and love our neighbors as ourselves.” But this … is tough. He tells us to love our enemies.

            So, let us stop … and consider … who are our enemies? Who are our enemies? Who do we hate?

            Be honest. Think about it.

            You might say out loud, “Me? Hate? No … I do not HATE anyone! I am a good person. I am a good Christian! I do not hate.”

            But … is that true? Are there not people that we hate? Who do you hate?

            Do you hate Republicans? Or do you hate Democrats?
            Do you hate Liberals? Or do you hate Conservatives?
            Do you hate Evangelical Christians? Or do you hate Progressive Christians?
            Do you hate immigrants? Or do you hate those who hate immigrants?
            Do you hate the LGBTQ+ community? Or do you hate the people who hate them, or hurt them?
            Do you hate the rich people that act as if they are entitled to special treatment?
            Or do you hate poor people who are lazy moochers?

            You get the point. There is plenty of hate to go around. We hate this and we hate that. When hate them and we hate those.

            We hate those who hate us, and exclude us, and revile us, and defame us. We hate those who cause us harm, and those who harm the ones that we love. And then, along comes Jesus telling us that we are supposed to love them.

            What are we to do with that? How can we go through our days harboring this secret hate knowing that it is the thing that Jesus tells us specifically we are NOT to do?

            Thankfully, Jesus gave us the answer to the question. He gave us our instructions, but what he tells us to do will not necessarily be easy to accomplish. In fact, it will test us and try us every day. He essentially reminds us that we are made in God’s image, therefore we are to be imitators of God. Of course, we already know that Jesus always calls us to do more. He calls us to be better. He calls us to take the higher path.

            Do not judge. Do not condemn. Instead … forgive.
            Give. Be good. DO good. Be merciful.

            You have likely heard this before, but it bears repeating. The Greeks had six words for “love,” and they all referred to a different type of love. The word that Jesus used in this passage was “agape.” Agape is not romantic love. It is not love for a family member. It is not affection for a thing or an experience. Agape love is a feeling of benevolence toward the other person. It means that no matter what they may say or do, we have nothing but a desire for the best for them.

            Agape love is about desiring well-being for the other and for the community as a whole. As we consider the world around us, and the self-reflection that we engaged in just a little while ago, it may seem impossible to do. It may seem absurd … unrealistic. Loving enemies and having a desire for nothing but the best for them is easy for JESUS to do … but he is Jesus! We are not Jesus. And the reality is that as we look at the world around us, loving our enemies may seem like the WRONG course of action, because in our hearts and minds, they are ruining everything!

            However, agape love is what Jesus asks of us. He wants those who follow him to change the way that they look at the world. The very essence of Christian practice is that it consists NOT of refraining from doing bad things, but rather actively seeking to do good.

            When we judge, or when we condemn, where is the good in that? How does that make us any different than those who do not follow the Way of Jesus? When we judge, when we condemn, we assign ourselves moral authority over the other. We elevate ourselves to moral superiority which then gives us the belief that we have the right to judge and condemn them.

            That creates imbalance in the community. It creates a power dynamic that is not ours to make. As humans, we are inclined to say, “Yeah, but what about THEM?! Look what THEY are doing!!” But as Children of God … as imitators of God, we are not called to pattern our behaviors upon the actions of our neighbors, or our “enemies,” we are called to pattern our behaviors after God. God is our exemplar. God is the standard by which we measure ourselves.

            The disciples of Jesus Christ do not reciprocate or retaliate. Followers of Jesus do not draw their patterns of behavior from those who seek to mistreat them or abuse them, or others. Instead, Followers of Jesus are to take the initiative and act according to the principles of the Kin_dom of God, and offer love, and generosity, and forgiveness.

            Again, this practice will not always be easy. The reality is that more often than not it will be quite difficult. But we must remember that Jesus went on to give us more examples. We must remember the parable of the vineyard workers (Matthew 20:1-6) and the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). There will be those who complain about God’s grace and mercy being offered to those who they believe do not deserve it. However, the lesson that Jesus teaches is that we do not get to decide who receives God’s blessings. God’s favor is upon those who appear to deserve it AND those who do not. But that is God’s prerogative. Not ours.

            Agape love is an act of will. We will have to make conscious decisions and efforts to engage in agape love. Jesus calls us, and God calls us, to behave toward our enemies in such a way that we create justice, kindness, mercy, harmony, and well-being for the community. We practice agape love so that the Kin_dom of God might be on earth as it is in heaven.

            Now, this does not mean that we have to like the other. It does not mean that we will agree with the things that they say or do. In fact, we are likely to think and believe in direct opposition to the things that they stand for or argue for. Acting with agape love … acting with loving kindness … acting with benevolence … does not mean that we have warm and fuzzy feelings for them. Agape love is the total desiring of what is best for the other AND for the good of the whole. There will be times when those are in conflict with one another. At those moments we look to Jesus. Jesus’ concern is always for the collective good. Jesus is about creating a community in which everyone engages in just, mutual relationships that are concerned with the well-being of all. Admittedly, that is a very difficult tightrope to walk.

            Jesus is not calling his followers to be milque-toast doormats. He is not calling us to willingly submit to abuse, or to allow abuse to continue in our communities. He IS telling us how to react and how to resist in non-violent and non-destructive ways. He IS telling us that there will be times when we have to stand us and say, “NO! That is not right! That is not God’s Way!” But agape love instructs us that we must do it in such a way that we do not damage the community. Agape love insists that we resist with love.

            Jesus calls us to share God’s vision for the world.

            God is absurdly generous, extravagantly gracious. God offers grace to those who deserve it, and to those whom we may believe do not deserve it. And God offers us grace as well.

            Let us share God’s dream. Imagine a world in which there is no violence. Imagine a world in which there is no revenge or retribution. Imagine a world where there are no divisions of class, or caste, or color, or ethnicity, or gender identity. Imagine.

            Imagine a world in which we check on our neighbors, where everyone is provided for, and where everyone is welcomed and loved.

            That is God’s dream. That is God’s deepest desire. And that is to be our dream as well. Let us dream … let us live according to God’s Way … and let us love … no matter what. Amen.

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