佛洛姆指出愛有四個元素：關懷、負責、尊重和認識。耶穌基督要求祂的門徒愛仇人，作為基督徒的我們，最低限度也要做到上述四點。
門徒要認識那迫害他們的人。認識甚麼呢？認識這人有甚麼欠缺，有甚麼需要。他欠缺安全感嗎？欠缺歸屬感嗎？欠缺成就嗎？作為耶穌的門徒，我們可以怎樣幫助他建立安全感、歸屬感和成就感呢？或許從中，我們會找到他迫害我們的原因，從而化敵為友。
門徒要尊重那憎恨我們的人。為甚麼要尊重他呢？因為無論他現在如何大奸大惡，他始終是按天主的肖像所造。說不定天主在借助他的手來雕琢我們，使我們成為天主應手的工具罷（依10:6）。
門徒要對我們的仇人負責任。倘若錯的是我們，我們有責任求寬恕，並作出補償。倘若錯不在我們，而是他自己犯的錯，或者是第三者的（包括制度上的，結構性的）錯，我們有責任指出錯在那裡（谷6:18）。
最後，門徒要關懷那傷害我們的人。倘若他祇是佔一些便宜，我們關懷他物質上的缺乏，慷慨、忍耐為他負擔起來罷；倘若他要趕盡殺絕，我們感謝他讓我們成為殉道者之餘，要關懷他靈魂的死活，為他的祈禱，求天父寬恕他，因為他不知道自己在做甚麼（路23:34）！
天主聖神啊！求祢成全蘊藏在我們內的天主肖像，使它像天父般成全。亞孟！
How should Christians Love their Enemies (Matthew 5:43-48)
Erich Fromm points out that there are four elements in love: care, responsibility, respect and knowledge. Jesus Christ requires His disciples to love enemies. As Christians, we should at least do the four elements above.
Disciples should know those who persecute them. What to know? Know what they lack and what they need. Do they lack a sense of security? Of belonging? Or of achievement? As disciples of Jesus, can we help them build up a sense of security, of belonging and a sense of achievement? Perhaps, by then, we may be able to discover the reason why they persecute us and make friends out of a nemesis.
Disciples should respect those who hate us. What to respect? Remember, no matter how evil they are, they were created in the image of God! Perhaps God makes use of them to discipline us and to make us a handy vessel of God (Isaiah 10:6).
Disciples should be responsible for our enemies. If it is our faults, we have the responsibility to seek forgiveness and to make compensation. If it is not our faults but theirs or the faults of the third party (including institutional and structural), we have the responsibility to point out where the faults lie (Mark 6:18).
Lastly, disciples should care for those who hurt us. If they only take advantages, we care about their physical deficiencies. Let us bear their burden generously and patiently. If they want to destroy us, not only should we thank them for making us martyrs but we should also pray for them and seek the Father’s forgiveness for them. It is because they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34)!
The Holy Spirit of God, help us perfect the image of God within us. Make it as nearly perfect as our Heavenly Father. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment