How to love the unloveable

One of the hardest things Jesus has ever asked me to do was to love my enemy. Now, don't get me wrong, its not like my life follows the ways of McCoys or Hatfields or even the Montagues or Capulets. Yet, I have come across people who just rub me the wrong way. Maybe they are blunt, rude, short tempered, or just plain mean. The last thing I want to do is share a kind word, or do some act of service. Yet, Jesus is very plain,

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

(Matthew 5:38-48)

These words were spoken in one of Jesus' most famous sermons, the sermon on the mount. Over and over again, Jesus urges us to push past ourselves in very painful ways to the benefit of others, especially those who are "against us." He ends this line of discourse with the seemingly insurmontable task of being "perfect, even as (our) Father which is in heaven is perfect." But, how can I be perfect? I am weak, selfish, proud, and at even at my best, fall very short of perfection. How can God expect me to be perfect?

Whenever I come across a situation that pushes my limits of love, I rarely think of perfection. I don't need to worry about being perfect. What does help me is another commandment of Jesus', "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:39). The golden rule. This is a lot easier. I know how to love myself. I am very good at it. When I am hungry, I go get myself something to eat, usually the biggest piece. When I am tired, I go lie down. When I want to watch a show, I put up my feet and turn it on while eating a yummy snack. So, going back to the original question, how do love the unloveable? How can I be perfect?

First, I realize who I am. I can also be very mean, cowardly, harsh, insensitive, yet I want to be forgiven and loved regardless. Therefore, no matter how people treat me, I am no better than they. I think the reason so many of us have a hard time when people wrong us, is we get offended. How dare they! I deserve better than that. We forget our own vices and unkind ways. When irritating people come our way, be humble. Remember your own faults.

Second, follow the golden rule. Think how you would like to be treated, and do likewise to the other person.

Lastly, pray. You know your weaknesses. You know which people you need more help with. Ask God to give you that Godlike love, the selfless love, agape love.