Last week’s message touched a chord with many people. I have had conversations with several people from our congregation who mentioned how life provided them with opportunities this week to “love their enemies.” That didn’t happen because the message was powerful and poignant. It happens because we are involved in relationships daily where we are tempted to seek retaliation and revenge, even if only mentally, rather than to “love people in spite of themselves.” Take Kevin Wilkins for instance. His story was reported in Wednesday’s issue of the Chicago Tribune.
The article began: “For more than five years, Kevin Wilkins waited for the opportunity to look the man who killed his teenage daughter in the eye and tell him about all the hate he felt for him.”
Wilkins’ daughter, Antoinette Means, was 19 years old, had been the valedictorian of her high school class and had earned a four year full ride academic scholarship to college. She was working at Kentucky Fried Chicken and managed many employees older than her. One night a man entered the restaurant and asked for the cash...$130...someone said something to him, he was angered and fired a shot, killing Antoinette. Senseless, tragic, and maddening...those are my reactions and I am not her dad.
This week Antoinette’s dad faced her killer. “...when Wilkins started to speak, it wasn’t about hate or anger. It was about something he felt was far more powerful. ‘Antoinette would have forgiven you and so have I,’ Wilkins said calmly, ‘May God have mercy on your soul.’”
Wow...that is more powerful than anything I might have said in my sermon. I can always rationalize why I can’t, or shouldn’t “love my enemies.” “Certainly Jesus couldn’t mean in every situation.” “This particular person makes it impossible.” “Under these circumstances, I am sure Jesus would understand if I didn’t follow His command.”
Loving our enemies is like so many other of God’s expectations for us. They seem impossible, or impractical, until we simply try obedience. If we overcome our doubts and our rationalizations and simply act in obedience, we may be surprised at how God empowers us to behave in ways we never imagined were possible. Obedience is the great equalizer. It doesn’t have to make sense. It doesn’t have to be practical. It doesn’t require that I want to do it. And it certainly isn’t predicated on whether or not I feel like being obedient.
Acting in obedience can change all of that. If you don’t think so, listen one more time to the great “preacher”, Kevin Wilkins:
“It’s been hard. It has taken a long time, but I’ve finally been able to forgive him because that is what God says to do. I’d have never been able to move on if I continued to hate him for what he did.”
Amen, Kevin, Amen.
This Sunday in worship at ECRC we will continue our journey through the Sermon on the Mount. Pastor Gregg will be preaching on Matthew 5:31-32. His message title is “The Real Marriage Ref.” Maybe he’ll wear a striped shirt and a whistle?
Looking forward to seeing you all in worship.
“Rev”
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