Wise words once again. What I find most hopefully is to focus on praying for the victims of the injustices that are happening. It helps me redirect and feel less powerless.
I love that instinct to pray. It’s one of the few places where we can actually do something real without adding more noise.
And when I pray in situations like this, I try to go even one layer deeper. Yes, we pray for the victims. Always. But we also pray for the healing of the one doing harm. Not in a naïve way. Not pretending nothing’s wrong. But asking God to get to the wound underneath the wound.
Because hurt people tend to hurt people.
If God can heal whatever is broken in them, maybe the cycle stops there. Maybe the damage doesn’t keep ricocheting through families, communities, and generations.
That kind of prayer doesn’t excuse injustice. It confronts it at the root.
And you’re right, it shifts something in us. It pulls us out of helpless outrage and into active mercy. That’s not weakness. That’s spiritual maturity.
Keep praying that way. You’re aiming at the real problem.
Wow, Father Rich, you have no idea how spot on timely this post is! We are going through something in our family and the love thy personal enemy spoke volumes about what is happening.
Obviously the love thy enemies that is occurring in our country and our world is also completely relevant but really, the timing on this couldn’t have happened at a better moment.
I will share this with Chris as he and I are facing this together. Thank you for your wisdom and spiritual guidance.
Oh wow… I’m really sorry you and Chris are carrying something painful right now. Family stuff has a way of landing in the deepest parts of us. It’s never abstract. It’s personal. And it can be exhausting.
I’m grateful the reflection met you where you are, even if I wish the circumstances were different.
Something I think worth mentioning.... When Jesus says “turn the other cheek,” (Matthew 5:38-40) I think we’ve misunderstood Him for centuries. He is not saying, “Go ahead, beat me up.” He is not endorsing being a doormat. In that culture, a backhanded slap was about humiliation, about putting someone in their place. Turning the other cheek was a way of saying, “I will not accept your attempt to diminish me. I’m standing here in my dignity, and I’m not playing your game.”
It’s not surrender. It’s quiet strength.
It’s choosing not to let someone else’s aggression colonize your soul, while refusing to repay hurt with more hurt.
Loving a personal enemy does not mean approving of what they’re doing. It means refusing to let their behavior dictate who you become. That’s hard. Sometimes it feels impossible. Sometimes it has to be lived one small decision at a time.
Please know I’m praying for both of you. And if you ever want to talk it through, vent, process, pray, or just have someone listen… I’m here.
Thank you for this additional reflection! It is greatly appreciated and needed. I will most certainly reach out when I have more time. Your prayers are also very much appreciated.
Wise words once again. What I find most hopefully is to focus on praying for the victims of the injustices that are happening. It helps me redirect and feel less powerless.
I love that instinct to pray. It’s one of the few places where we can actually do something real without adding more noise.
And when I pray in situations like this, I try to go even one layer deeper. Yes, we pray for the victims. Always. But we also pray for the healing of the one doing harm. Not in a naïve way. Not pretending nothing’s wrong. But asking God to get to the wound underneath the wound.
Because hurt people tend to hurt people.
If God can heal whatever is broken in them, maybe the cycle stops there. Maybe the damage doesn’t keep ricocheting through families, communities, and generations.
That kind of prayer doesn’t excuse injustice. It confronts it at the root.
And you’re right, it shifts something in us. It pulls us out of helpless outrage and into active mercy. That’s not weakness. That’s spiritual maturity.
Keep praying that way. You’re aiming at the real problem.
Love this - that feels like an authentic way to pray for them to me. Thank you for that!
Wow, Father Rich, you have no idea how spot on timely this post is! We are going through something in our family and the love thy personal enemy spoke volumes about what is happening.
Obviously the love thy enemies that is occurring in our country and our world is also completely relevant but really, the timing on this couldn’t have happened at a better moment.
I will share this with Chris as he and I are facing this together. Thank you for your wisdom and spiritual guidance.
Oh wow… I’m really sorry you and Chris are carrying something painful right now. Family stuff has a way of landing in the deepest parts of us. It’s never abstract. It’s personal. And it can be exhausting.
I’m grateful the reflection met you where you are, even if I wish the circumstances were different.
Something I think worth mentioning.... When Jesus says “turn the other cheek,” (Matthew 5:38-40) I think we’ve misunderstood Him for centuries. He is not saying, “Go ahead, beat me up.” He is not endorsing being a doormat. In that culture, a backhanded slap was about humiliation, about putting someone in their place. Turning the other cheek was a way of saying, “I will not accept your attempt to diminish me. I’m standing here in my dignity, and I’m not playing your game.”
It’s not surrender. It’s quiet strength.
It’s choosing not to let someone else’s aggression colonize your soul, while refusing to repay hurt with more hurt.
Loving a personal enemy does not mean approving of what they’re doing. It means refusing to let their behavior dictate who you become. That’s hard. Sometimes it feels impossible. Sometimes it has to be lived one small decision at a time.
Please know I’m praying for both of you. And if you ever want to talk it through, vent, process, pray, or just have someone listen… I’m here.
Thank you for this additional reflection! It is greatly appreciated and needed. I will most certainly reach out when I have more time. Your prayers are also very much appreciated.