“You have heard that it hath been said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thy enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and culminate you: that you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.”
It was shown in the parable of the Good Samaritan that one’s neighbor is anyone who needs mercy: “’Which of these three, in thy opinion, was neighbour to him that fell among the robbers?’ But he said: ‘He that shewed mercy to him.’ And Jesus said to him: ‘Go, and do thou in like manner’” (Luke 10:36-37). The extension of merciful love through you must be available to all, when Jesus says, “Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you.” Refuse your heart to no one, letting it reach out to love all that call upon you. The Old Law gave the commandments of righteousness and virtue, but the law of love reaches much higher, making love the expression of goodness. In fact, the virtues in their true sense are all expressions of love, for wisdom not concerning divine things is empty knowledge, and prudence concerning how to act rather than how to love is to elevate yourself rather than learning how to love well. It is similar with the others. It is of note that nowhere in the Law does it say to hate your enemy, but the armies of Israel were commanded to pursue the Gentiles in the Promised Land and wipe them out, which is a precursor to your spiritual life. All that does not pertain to the love of God and love of neighbor is to be vigilantly fought. “I will be an enemy to thy enemies, and will afflict them that afflict thee” (Exodus 23:22), that is, the unfathomable love of God will burn away with love the things in you that are contrary to love. Now, there is no altering your nature, and your brokenness will always remain, and so you may feel resentment towards others, but it is in always choosing love that holiness exists, with the perfection of its expression how you climb. God extends His merciful love to all, whether or not they accept it, and you walk in the sunshine of love. What others receive is of no detraction to you, and so you are called to focus entirely on your own expression of divine love to others. Now, this is a commandment that goes beyond human nature, for it is impossible for one to love an enemy without the empowerment of divine love: “he hath given us most great and precious promises: that by these you may be made partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). To be this radically merciful, to love to this extreme, that it is withheld from no one, but given to all with joy, surpassing any condition that love may never be suppressed: “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it” (Song 8:7), this is to be a child of the Father, a sibling of Jesus. He makes the literal sun rise on all, but also the sun of His love, that it may radiate out from Himself and illuminate all things to be expressions of love, and is open for any that will simply open their eyes. Similarly, the rain represents truth, which is open and ready to all that receive it, not as paved ground but as fertile soil. Therefore, to speak with love and truth in all things is to imitate the Trinity, who are being in the Father, Truth in the Son, and Love in the Holy Spirit, and these both uphold you and are within you, longing to be given to others. “His sun and rain” indicate that these things are not yours to be grasped, but are gifts given to you, invested in you that you may in turn give them away: “He that had received the five talents, went his way, and traded with the same, and gained other five” (Matthew 25:16). Therefore, love and joy, the latter of which is indicated by salutation, are to be given liberally and to all, through whatever trials you may be enduring. Let eyes of love and a smile of joy never leave you, even when everything in your nature pulls you elsewhere, for you are loved by God, and He will give you the grace to be His light in the world, the rain that falls on the dry land: “And Elias said to Achab: Go up, eat, and drink: for there is a sound of abundance of rain” (3 Kings 18:41), that is, the soul that starves for both wisdom and affection. Therefore, love as God loves, not withdrawing from any, but giving more than is asked by any who call upon you: “If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11). Thus, to give your love to all, overcoming all boundaries, giving aid, kindness, and prayer wherever possible, this is to be perfect as your Father is perfect.