Loving some people is easy. Others, not so much. That fact is what makes today's Gospel passage so difficult. Jesus tells his disciples to love their enemies, bless those who curse them, and even turn the other cheek when someone slaps them. How can we do this? And doesn't this way of life just turn us into doormats, vulnerable to being abused? In this sermon our student intern, Ed Montano, tackles this challenging passage by reminding us that it's through God's grace that these actions become an agent to change the world for the better.

Scripture Reference: Luke 6:27-38; 1 Corinthians 15:35-50

Preached on the Seventh Sunday after Epiphany, February 24, 2019 by Ed Montano

Sermon Highlights

• We all face situations which make us angry
• This makes it very hard to do what Jesus tells us
• We often don't want to have our hatreds or angers challenged
• Jesus challenges us in the Gospel anyway
• He asks more of us than to do what comes easy
• Disciples are asked to trust that Jesus' way is better
• We are asked to trust that he knows what is good
• Just like eating vegetables, it can seem hard but it is good for us to do
• The reward Jesus promises isn't material
• Instead, the reward is that this way forms us into God's children
• We start taking on the character of Jesus
• God often reveals to us that our enemies aren't malicious, but sometimes just misunderstood
• Seeing them with mercy helps us be more merciful

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