Bishop Joemath – July 2023

Watchword for the Month

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5,44-45

Dear reader/listener, I am Augustine Joemath, serving at Moravian Hill in the historic District 6 in the CBD of Cape Town and Bishop of the Unity. The seventh month of 2023 is on us while some of us think we have done very little in this year.

The history of our country is rife with signs of animosity and hatred. With Apartheid literally now far behind us, the legacy of this stain on the daily life of our people still speak of the remnants and some indelible patterns of this hated oppressive system. There are moments when we may even think we are back in the days of old. Can it be true that we are still trying to perpetuate making enemies by our lifestyles? Living in our separate spaces and not making friends across borders and colour lines are still for many of us safe spaces. This merry mess of creating enemies around every corner can never be more wrong that it was yesteryear.

But we also know of circles where enemies and rivals are an everyday phenomenon. The dark under-world cannot survive without cursing the next person and avoiding one another like a scourge. There the rule is: do not come too near me if I do not know you.

In all the above and all the other similar situations Jesus brings to us two concepts that seem totally out of place to the extent that there may be those among us who may sceptically ask: Will love and prayer ever make a difference? This, while others with their deep spiritual nature will say: We need more and more of it.

I am sure that you will note that our level of spirituality and relationship with the Father in heaven is measured precisely by such challenging situations and the way we deal with it. All the good that we may present to our Father in heaven may be acceptable but these tests will not be ignored. According to Jesus these will determine whether we can truly call ourselves sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. So if you have doubts about your relationship with the Father, just look at yourself against these challenges.

Love your enemies is no mean feat. Enemies and love are not easily matched. We are however advised to infiltrate the world of the enemy with the power of love. Love is not an exclusive power to be used in loving situations. We are tested to see if we will find ways to infiltrate the toughest situation with the power of love. Enemies are normally associated with tough people while love is associated with soft people. Do not be fooled. The power of love is so high and strong that can infiltrate the worst fields of hatred, of animosity, of dislike. The best example of this is found in the common picture of couples across such borders, while the cross is our best example by far of the radiation of love onto the lives of the enemy. Yes, it is possible to love your enemy. This Jesus demonstrated for us to follow.

The same holds for the power of prayer. If we continue to proclaim the power of the prayer of the Christian believer, then we must also believe that it is possible to pray for our persecutors. The power of our prayers comes not from us but from the One to whom they are projected. We are asking God to intervene and He has all the power and skills to break through the hardness of the persecutor. God’s intervention goes to the heart of the persecutor while our words may just bounce off the surface of mind of the persecutor.

So, brothers & sisters do not allow such circumstances to overpower you. Use the tools that you have to deal with those situations that seem hard to crack. Our simples commands are: Love one another, and pray for one another.

Prayer: Dear Lord, sometimes we feel weak and lost in such situations of animosity and fear. You have shown and offered us the tools of love and prayer we need to make this world a better place. Help us to put them to practice and make your Kingdom come.

Amen.

Bishop Joemath