WEEK 3
Day 12
SUNDAY
Love and pray for your enemies. Matthew 5:21-48 Focus verses: Matthew 5:43-45
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
T his passage from the Sermon on the Mount contains six examples – six teachings – each
of which addresses problems within the early church community. Jesus speaks about anger, jealousy, adultery, divorce, oaths and retaliation. Through each teaching, he deepens the law, showing that righteousness is not about rule-following but about living in right relationship with God and with one another. Then Jesus brings it all to a startling conclusion: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This sentence may be the most demanding teaching of all. We find it easy enough to love our friends and to show kindness to those who show kindness to us. But Jesus calls us to love the ones who frustrate us, the ones who have wronged us, the ones who don’t think or believe like we do. If we love only those who love us back, Jesus says, we merely imitate the world. But if we love those who do not love us, we imitate God. That’s where the transformation happens. I know what it feels like to meet ugly with ugly, to answer harsh words with more harshness. I’ve fallen into this behavior too often, and it never satisfies. It just leaves me feeling ugly too, because in that moment I’m not living into my potential as a child of God. I’m not acting in love. To love our enemies isn’t to excuse their behavior or pretend harm doesn’t hurt. Instead, loving our enemies means choosing a different way – the way of God – whose compassion extends to all, even those who don’t deserve it. Including me. Including you.
Reflection
Whom do you find it hardest to love right now? What would it look like to pray for that person — not to change them, but to keep your own heart open to God’s transforming grace?
Prayer
Merciful God, when anger rises and grudges take root, soften our hearts. Teach us to love as you love, to pray for those who wound us and to see every person as your beloved child. Make us instruments of your peace, that your kingdom may take shape in us. Amen.
2026 Lent Devotional | 15