There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9), so the times in which we live are nothing that haven’t been seen before. In particular, the polarizing that has happened over the last decade, which evolves into hatred and violence, is not new. In fact, it can be successfully argued that hatred and violence against those who are not like us is one of Satan’s oldest tools. Still the question lingers: “What can we do against such hate?” “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ ‘But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven’” (Matthew 5:43-45). On another occasion, a scribe heard an interchange between Sadducees and Jesus, and recognized that our Lord had answered them well. The scribe asked Jesus, “Which is the first commandment of all? Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:28-31). If more of us will play the part of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), then we can begin to make great changes.
