Bible Study: Love Thy Enemy

Certainly, man does not "live by bread alone" (Luke 4:4) and this has become evident with our involvement at the Oxford Street Inn Bible study on Friday Nights. Each week a group of brothers comes together to share in a reflection, study, and prayerful conversation on a specific topic. Tonight the topic of study was loving thy enemy. Many of us have a hard enough time loving our relatives or friends all the time when they may annoy us, get on our nerves, or do something that disappoints us. However, to love one's enemy requires the greatest gift of all which is selfless love. Loving one's enemy is not easy and it really is not all that simple either. The type of love that Jesus calls us to is one that is for all people, a forgiving love, and a reconciling love. At the Ox tonight we discussed various situations where we have been hurt by others who deliberately sought to bring us down whether with words, actions, or violence. In these instances we recognized how badly we felt as love was abscent because of the evil done to us by our conterpart. One's natural response in such situations would often be to shout something nasty back, use physical force, or seek revenge. However, in order to love one's enemy the opposite must be done. Instead, we as Christians must combat evil and hatred with kindness and love. It is in times of hardship where we are being attacked that we must remember the message of Proverbs 12:16, "the fool immediately shows his anger, but the shrewd man passes over an insult" and further in Prov 12:20, "Deceit is in the hands of those who plot evil, but those who counsel peace have joy." As Christians, our Father knows that we are not perfect but urges us to combat evil with love, a love not just for those whom it is easy to love but especially a love for those who are enemies to the cross of Christ. In addition, we reflected and conversed much on the message of love in 1 Corinthians 13. We learned by reading the word that one can have all things such as faith to move mountains, gifts of prophecy or different tongues or talents, and even all knowledge, yet if we do not have love we are nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 states, "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." For with the Love of Christ first in our hearts all of the time, even when the enemy takes a shot at us we will be able to pray for him or her, love him or her, and do our best to respect him or her. Sometimes the best way for us to love our enemy is to avoid them so that peace my prevail. So we urge you brothers and sisters to think before you act and let the spirit overcome the flesh when your enemy attacks you so that love my reign and you will be filled with true joy by God who sees the good that you do.

Thank you All

Hey guys,

I just want to thank all of you who have helped out with sandwiches this year. I looked forward to every Monday and Wednesday evening because of you all. I hope that next year the sandwich making will continue with the same attitude and spirit as this year.

Also, thanks to all of you who attended the Sam Center Awards Dinner this evening. It was really nice to have a group of Le Moyne STUDENTS there. Keep up the great work all and have a safe and productive summer. Keep doing good stuff!


Thanks all...



... I thought in the spirit of Cinco de Mayo... a few days late!

Exciting Stuff!

Hey all!

So Wednesday, tomorrow, is our last sandwiching of the semester... I know...
But I have some great news about how our little program has spread beyond the Le Moyne community.
I also have some notes I need you all to sign. So I hope to see you all there. Good luck with finals and studying and take care...

Thanks all.