C.S. Lewis once said, “There are no ordinary people…Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object present to your senses.”

It is easy to see how God is “in” our close loved ones. But for me, this is much harder to see in people I disagree with, or who hurt others. When I see so much negativity and hate in what is happening around me, it is often easier, or more popular, to go along with others and just criticize. I forget that fighting for what is just and good means also constantly seeking reconciliation, community, and love—even with enemies.

So let us honestly ask ourselves if there is anyone in whom it is difficult to recognize God’s presence. And if there is, listen to Jesus in prayer to understand how to love them as he does, whether friend or enemy.

—Chris Williams, S.J., a Jesuit scholastic of the Wisconsin province, is studying philosophy at Loyola University Chicago.