"I SHALL NOT HATE"

Above is a picture of the "separation wall" 

between Israel and the West Bank.

JANUARY 17, 2024

John 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Luke 6:35

"... love your enemies, do good to them"

1 John 4:8 

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

We are in the season of Epiphany in the Church calendar. Epiphany means a sudden manifestation or appearance of God, or the sudden realization of God’s presence. The experience of the Wisemen who travel a great distance to find the Christ child is an example of Epiphany. The sudden manifestation of a Star drove them to be seekers of God’s presence. This appearance of God that they travelled to witness, you will recall was not found in the Kings palace in Jerusalem, but in a house in Bethlehem. There they offered gifts “most rare.”

Where do we find epiphany?

Where do we meet God?

Epiphanies can come amid terrible pain.

I read about Izzeldin Abuelaish, a physician from Gaza who has a noteworthy story. He wrote a memoir with the title “I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey”. He grew up in terrible poverty, a refugee in Gaza, but the kindness of people, both Arabs and Jews, encouraged him to become a doctor. As a doctor, he dedicated his career to nurturing life. Nurturing the lives not just of Palestinians, but also Israelis. During one of the uprisings in Gaza a few years ago, three of his daughters and his niece were killed in a tank attack on his home.

Abuelaish’s story is both dreadful and inspiring. The fact is he lived through so much violence, he was surrounded by a cloud of hatred and revenge. Yet he chooses not to hate. He has become an ambassador for peace. In his own words, “I understand down to my bones that violence is futile, a waste of time, lives and resources, and has been proven to beget more violence….There’s only one way to bridge the divide, to live together, to realize the goals of two peoples.”(p. 174 of “I Shall Not Hate”) His work involves trying to get people to put themselves in their enemies’ shoes. To feel their pain. To feel their fears.

Abuleish, somehow, can get a glimpse of the larger meaning of things. His faith, the love of his family, his community, his friends, and colleagues, both Arabs and Jews, help him to keep his eyes on the power of love.

I think that’s an epiphany that the world is ready and waiting for, longing for, I believe desperate for. Some days, would you agree, that it feels like anger, hatred, and revenge are the most powerful forces on earth? But in fact, it’s the power of love which triumphs.

You see, I believe that our calling as Jesus followers, is to be ambassadors of the power of love, right where we are. Most of us won’t have a story and experience like Izzeldin Abuelaish but I feel deep in my spirit if he can live in his context with love triumphing over hate, then surely we can too, right where God has us placed.

Jesus came to earth to tell us about that love, the power of that love. At the beginning of his life, and at the end, amid murder, (Herod; Pilate) an epiphany. God is with us. Love wins. Love is stronger than anger, hatred, and revenge, and other such wickedness.

LET US PRAY

We pray that our lives would be filled and overflowing with the power of your love so we can make a difference in this world and bring honor to you.

Lord thank you that your love is patient.
Help us show patience with those around us.

Lord thank you that your love is kind.
Help us to extend kindness to others.

Lord thank you that true love is not jealous.
Help us cast aside feelings of jealousy or hatred towards others.

Help us to love as you love.
Fill us with your Spirit so that we can choose what is best.

Thank you that you equip us to face each day with the power of your love, your forgiveness, and your grace.

We love you Lord, and we need you today, and every day,

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.