Invite someone to read Luke 6:27-35 NIV

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.”

If you are in a community of ten or more, consider dividing into smaller groups. Spend a few minutes catching up on life, then talk through the following questions:

1) Have you tried any part of the practice from this week? (Identify, pray, bless an enemy) What was it like for you?

2) Have you found loving your enemies to be difficult in your life? Which part is most challenging for you, identify, pray, or bless an enemy?

3) Have you tried any of the previous week’s practices again? If so, what was your experience like?

After your discussion, spend some time practicing prayer together. To guide our time in prayer tonight, let’s meditate on the words of St. Francis, and allow his prayer to become our own. As we consider loving our enemies, use the words of St. Francis to guide your time of prayer.

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.”