by LOVE IN POLITICS
In this era of political wranglings, we are reminded that fighting with a brother or sister is not worth comparing with the bond that once existed over the years. Love is meant to last forever, whearas political position will come and go. Do not allow anyone deceive you into dying for a political cause; it’s not worth it. It is more important that you live peacefully with your neighbour in this world than with rancor, inherit a title that will pass away. Be careful and don’t allow yourself be fooled by someone else. Love is being able to sit down with a brother or sister after a fight to say: “I know I have wronged you. Please, I need your forgiveness. I also feel offended but I am ready to lay down my anger because what we share together is stronger and more important than what we are fighting for.”
It is this type of love that Christ demands from his disciples: unselfish, disinterested, and unconditional love even of enemies. He said, “love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Lk. 6: 27-28). We are called to exhibit this kind of love to our blood relatives, our political opponents, those we have offended, and those who have offended us. David noticed that Saul, his mortal enemy, was within his reach. His ally and admonisher, Abishai even admonished him saying: “God has delivered your enemy into your grasp this day, lets nail him to the ground with one thrust.” David, however out of Love was able to use his common sense to say to his adviser: “Do not touch him” (cf. 1 Sam. 26ff).
Much of the rancor we experience with each other is often as a result of listening to bas advice or the evil influence of our supporters. Do not harm anyone just because you are on opposite sides of the political divide. Pay no heed to any adviser who encourages you to kill or hate your neighbour simply because of a quarrel or an argument. This type of love is true and it is what Christ expects of us. After all, Love is not only when you have to be nice to close friends and family. If love was meant for only those who love us, what differentiates us from people of the world who love their friends and hate their enemies. Just like gold in a fiery furnace, the beauty of true love shines through the fiery furnace of our disputes and misunderstanding.Real love entails forgiveness of your opponent(s) who are in disagreements with you.
There is time for everything. A time to hate and a time to love. Nothing on this earth is worth dying for. If its politics, play your own part and move on, for life goes on. Remember your family and those who will depend on you now and in the near future. Go the extra mile, think of the meaning of love and reconsider that fight you are planning with your so-called opponent. It is not worth it. The Lord says: “for if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” (Luke 6: 32ff). Our love must truly extend to our enemies if it must have true meaning. Paul reminds us that if we truly believe in the new body that we shall receive after death, then we cannot hate or do wrong to each other in this world and think it is okay. If we believe that one day we shall all sit down together in the house of our Father then we can as well start practising that Love here on earth by the way we reconcile with our enemies (1Cor. 15:45ff).
The future hope that binds us together is stronger than any earthly positions that divide us. Elections will come and go, positions will come and go, but our actions and their effects would linger for much longer. It does not seem right that brothers and sisters who have been best of friends or community builders together for long or even blood family members should separate and become mortal enemies because of elections. Charity, they say, begins at home. If you must love your neighbour, begin by loving yourself, your life, your sanity, and avoid whatever will bring you a headache.
