This is a story I heard from a Jewish rabbi in my youth. There was a military man who built a very large weapon he was sure would turn the tide of World War II in Germany’s favor. It could fire huge bombs over great distances with great accuracy. From a mountaintop perch, the German army could control vast swaths of territory. It would be encased in triple-thick cement impervious to allied air attacks. It was, he said, the most powerful weapon in the world.
The group of officials he was speaking to seemed impressed. Then a voice rose from the rear. “If the allies breach the walls, can you guarantee your soldiers will defend their position with all their might; even to give up their life to defend it?” The military man hesitated. “If not, then your big cannon is no more powerful than a frail woman because a frail woman can be loved. And a woman loved will always be defended to the death. Love conquers all.”
The man who spoke was called to the front where he was threatened with death for mocking the military man. “Then I win. Because I will forgive you for killing me. Then I will go to be with God. And God is love. And love conquers all.”
The German guns never got built. The man who spoke was a Jewish prisoner consigned to clean the building where the military man shared his weapon design. The prisoner was sent to Auschwitz to meet his fate. But his fate turned out to include a moment when he told me a story about how Love conquers all.
God is Love. He is the weapon which defeats all darkness. When darkness confronts us, the answer is to love your enemies. The power teaching of Jesus was pointedly delivered in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:43-47, Jesus explains that anyone can love their friends. To be kind to people we like makes us just like everyone else. But we should be different than others. God provides rain and sun to good people and bad. Let us love our friends and also our enemies.
When Jesus tells us the most important commandment is to love God and to love our neighbors, he doesn’t specify the neighbors we like or the ones who are like us. Be like the Samaritan who helped the man society told him to hate. Offer your jacket to the man who steals your hat. Love your enemies.
The power teaching of Jesus makes us wonder why? Why would we love those who hate us? Those who take advantage of us or wish us ill will… why would we love them? How could we love them?
But love is the answer. History is filled with stories of love winning out over hatred. The same rabbi tells the story of a British pilot whose plane was badly damaged and defenseless. A German pilot saw he was in trouble and not flying in the right direction. The Nazi fighter pointed what direction to fly in and escorted the Brit to the English Channel. Years later, the two found each other and are friends to this day.
There is a popular true story on social media of a young boy caught stealing from a market. A man shows love instead of judgment by paying for the stolen items, adding some food, and letting the boy go. Many years later, the man is very ill and facing massive medical bills. His doctor recognizes him and the family is told his medical bill was paid years earlier with some stolen medicine and soup.
Love your enemies. The power teaching of Jesus can change the world. Hatred and prejudice cannot win out. Loving your enemies will not only disarm them, but it could provide the spark that brings them to find Jesus Christ. Showing love where it is not expected leaves us feeling more love and our love reserve abounds. Ultimately, our enemies will know we are Christians by our love.
