St. Aidan's Anglican Church, Kansas City - Weekly Talks

Love your enemies ... Luke 6:27-38 The liturgical cycle, this seventh Sunday after the Epiphany is taking us somewhere. We’re moving closer and closer to Holy Week, culminating in the most outrageous act of God ever displayed, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In this event, the resurrection of Christ, all things are becoming new, restored to the purity of their origins, conformed to the image of the crucified and risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Since last week, the Gospel readings feature perhaps the heart of Jesus’ teaching. It’s famously called, in Luke’s version, the sermon on the plain, Luke’s account of Matthew’s version, the Sermon on the Mount. Today’s passage begins with a deeply challenging and perhaps, even disturbing command to love one’s enemies, 6:27 & 35. Challenging and perhaps disturbing because it identifies our human frailty. Let’s just say, it’s hard. It’s hard because of our need to daily take up our cross, discerning where my will and God’s will cross. This entire Gospel s