Thursday September 10th: When “We Squared” isn’t the Gospel

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”

Luke 6: 27-38

In our Caribbean culture, the instinct can sometimes be: “If you hurt me, I hurting you back-then we squared.” Hurt can look plenty of ways: cuss meh up, horn meh, hit meh, disrespect meh – and naturally, we want to return the same energy.

Even from small, children defend themselves with, “But he hit me first!” Yet Jesus challenges that thinking right here in this passage. He calls us to love, forgive, bless, and show mercy. That does not mean accepting abuse or living without boundaries. It means refusing to let someone else’s actions determine who we become. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Sometimes the stronger response is not revenge. It is setting the boundary, protecting your peace, and still allowing grace – not retaliation – to have the final word.