How Can We Hope for What We do Not Give?

Last updated on: February 20, 2022 at 8:03 pm by Sherry Antonetti

How Can We Hope for What We do Not Give? 2022-02-20T20:03:52-05:00 Sherry Antonetti

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

So this week, Jesus asks us to love our enemies.

Who are our enemies? Those cheaters? That country? My government? The Anti-whatever I’m for? The party I don’t for? The people who think the party I vote for is evil incarnate? The Pope? The people who hate the Pope? Those who abuse? Those who get away with abuse? Those who defend or hide abuse? Those who use the system? Those who make my life harder? Those who say cruel words? Those who drive aggressively when I’m driving? Those who take too long? Those who are always late? Those who are unsympathetic with those who are always late? People who push their way of thinking? People who brag about what they’ve done? People who put down what we’ve done? At some point, something is going to prickle and itch. Something is going to provoke. Whosoever that is, is the one for whom one should pray.

Who is our enemy? For whom must we pray? We must find the ones that hurt us in our prayer life, in our real life, i our whole life, and for these, we must pray.

The one with whom one is not patient, not kind, the one envied or for whom one puts on airs, is the one you hate. The one we wish dishonor on, and wish to dishonor, whom we wish to present ourselves as better than, who easily angers us, and whose wrongs we keep careful record of and review regularly. Hate delights in suffering, in grief, in falseness. Hate attacks, denies, disbelieves, despairs and quits. It attacks and leaves the wounded. Hate always flails and will ultimately fail, but will dry up and wither the soul that indulges it.

What is asked, is not easy, is not possible without grace, but without seeking to do just this, our lives will be graceless. We will ping from one wound to another, and never heal. We will nurse regret, despair and anger. We will not be able to partake of the peace of Christ, because our hearts will be predisposed against peace, distrusting it as an act. So hey, all of us…find the things, the people, the movements, the parties, the countries, the everything that makes you want to rant, rage, snarl and/or pull away, and know that this is your list. These are the ones you’ve been tasked with praying for, that they might see the Glory of God.

And the sinful proud boasting envious petty part of the soul says, “Yeah…Jesus, about that…do you really mean it?”

He looks at us from the cross and says, “What do you think?”
The world is brimming with rage and aches and deep pains, wounds that seem unforgivable.
Time to get on our knees folks.

Previous Post

February 16, 2022

Over at the Register This Week

Next Post

February 24, 2022 Praying for Deep Peace

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Answered Prayers Blessed Mother Confirmation Devotion of the Sacred Heart Doctors of the Church Easter Family Humor family life Good Friday Growing up Healing Holy Spirit taps Lent Love in the little things Mary Undoer of Knots Not an Apologist Parenting Sacred Heart of Jesus Saint Therese of Lisieux Sin Small Success Saturday Teaching others and myself Uncategorized Waiting Writing Year of Saint Joseph

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz