There is a part of me I do not like or trust. He pounds on the door, yells expletives, and begs to be heard. I refuse to let him in or give him a seat at the table of my heart. Because of negative past experiences with this part of myself, I have exiled him from my inner home. This part is my enemy. For me, this part is called anger.

While Jesus speaks here to the reality of external enemies, I am discovering that my relationship with my internal enemies illuminates and resembles my external relationships with others who might, in various ways, qualify as enemies.

Each of us is wired to keep ourselves safe. My inner enemy makes me feel unsafe. When we have been told or shown that a part of us leads to a lack or absence of safety, we turn this part into an enemy. When another person or group threatens our individual or collective sense of safety, we do the same. We demonize and vilify others in a futile attempt to ensure safety and flourishing. But as Dr. King said: “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Thus, Jesus instructs us to love our enemies, and this is not an arbitrary command. He instructs me to love my enemies not to fulfill some contrived standard of holiness but because my enemies are bearers of the divine image; therefore, my enemies are integral, irreplaceable members of the human family. In the same way, my inner enemy is a vital part of my inner household who deserves to be valued and understood, rather than shamefully shunned.

In light of Christ’s teaching and example, let us rise to the occasion and undergo the long work of welcoming, listening to, and loving our enemies.