When I was little, Jesus’ words seemed simple: Be kind to the people you don’t like, even if they’re not kind to you. I’m not saying I was good at this, but it seemed like I could achieve it over time, like the grown-ups who were teaching me Jesus’ words.
But now, as a grown-up, I wonder: Does anyone actually love their enemies? Indeed, none of us is perfect like our Heavenly Father. And that’s okay. In the original Greek, “perfect” connotes the completion of a process or the fulfillment of a purpose. Each of us is in process, and we will not be “complete” until we are with our Father in heaven. But Jesus asks us to start that process now. So whoever your “enemies” might be–Trump, Clinton, ISIS, your little brother, whoever— say a prayer for them today. You’ll be taking one small step toward perfection.
—Daniel Everson, S.J., a Jesuit scholastic of the U.S. Central Southern province, is currently studying philosophy at Loyola University Chicago.