1 Corinthians 8:1-7, 11-13 / Luke 6:27-38
It is said that a trapped snake can get so angry and confused that it will bite anything, including itself.
We may find this puzzling or amazing, but that is a good image of what happens to us when we let anger and resentment control us.
We get trapped by our own anger and resentment and we end up biting and hurting ourselves.
When we get angry, we think we are getting even with our enemy.
The truth is that we are harming ourselves more than we are harming our enemy. (If our enemies were to know this, they would be satisfied just to keep irritating us, because we will do the rest of the damage)
So when Jesus said : "Love our enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly", we are actually doing good to ourselves.
Because by following what Jesus teaches us, we free ourselves from anger and resentment, and we become open to the love and compassion of God.
It is a loving compassion that is given in full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, that will turn our so-called enemies into our friends.