Marching orders

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

Sounds like marching orders. He certainly spoke these words. They're in three of the gospels, and similar versions are in the Gospel of Thomas and Paul's writings. How do we interpret this?  

What does it mean to love?  

I think it is comprised of both the masculine and feminine principles. It is gentle as a dove and wise as a serpent. It's a passionate, persevering, enlightened willing determination to not be brought down to their level of fear, terror, and hatred. It is a strong, intentional transmission of love, combined with a strong courage not to hate them, despite how terrible they are.

Maybe we need to stand up with a sure determination to love ourselves, and each other. Then, as we build up higher and stronger, increasingly radiant in the power of God's love,  we can send that powerful love out to wrap "our enemies, those who persecute us."  God's awesome power to heal, to create, to give life, can transform them. I believe this and it seems Jesus did also. Gandhi proved it can work. 

Our love has to be powerful and intentional, proactive and assertive.  We cannot afford for one more minute to react to their terror. Maybe we've done that in the past, but we cannot react and allow ourselves to be lured to their level of hatred.