loving difficult people

²⁷But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. ²⁸Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who slander you. ²⁹And to him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your coat, do not withhold even your tunic. ³⁰But distribute to all who ask of you. And do not ask again of him who takes away what is yours. ³¹And exactly as you would want people to treat you, treat them also the same. ³²And if you love those who love you, what credit is due to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

²³But avoid foolish and undisciplined questions, for you know that these produce strife. ²⁴For the servant of the Lord must not be contentious, but instead he must be meek toward everyone, teachable, patient, ²⁵correcting with self-restraint those who resist the truth. For at any time God may give them repentance, so as to recognize the truth, ²⁶and then they may recover from the snares of the devil, by whom they are held captive at his will.

⁹Let love be without falseness: hating evil, clinging to what is good, ¹⁰loving one another with fraternal charity, surpassing one another in honor: ¹¹in solicitude, not lazy; in spirit, fervent; serving the Lord; ¹²in hope, rejoicing; in tribulation, enduring; in prayer, ever-willing; ¹³in the difficulties of the saints, sharing; in hospitality, attentive. ¹⁴Bless those who are persecuting you: bless, and do not curse.

⁴⁶For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not even tax collectors behave this way?

⁴Charity is patient, is kind. Charity does not envy, does not act wrongly, is not inflated. ⁵Charity is not ambitious, does not seek for itself, is not provoked to anger, devises no evil. ⁶Charity does not rejoice over iniquity, but rejoices in truth. ⁷Charity suffers all, believes all, hopes all, endures all.

¹A mild response shatters anger. But a harsh word stirs up fury. ²The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge. But the mouth of the senseless gushes with foolishness. ³In every place, the eyes of the Lord consider good and evil. ⁴A peaceful tongue is a tree of life. But that which is immoderate will crush the spirit. ⁵A fool laughs at the discipline of his father. But whoever preserves rebukes will become astute. In abundant justice, there is very great virtue. But the intentions of the impious will be eradicated. ⁶The house of the just has very great strength. And in the fruits of the impious, there is disorder.

¹²This is my precept: that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

¹⁵But if your brother has sinned against you, go and correct him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have regained your brother.

⁴³You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and you shall have hatred for your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I say to you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who persecute and slander you. ⁴⁵In this way, you shall be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and he causes it to rain upon the just and the unjust. ⁴⁶For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not even tax collectors behave this way? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers, what more have you done? Do not even the pagans behave this way? ⁴⁸Therefore, be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

²²And all things whatsoever that you shall ask for in prayer: believing, you shall receive.”

³⁸You have heard that it was said: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil, but if anyone will have struck you on your right cheek, offer to him the other also. ⁴⁰And anyone who wishes to contend with you in judgment, and to take away your tunic, release to him your cloak also. ⁴¹And whoever will have compelled you for one thousand steps, go with him even for two thousand steps. ⁴²Whoever asks of you, give to him. And if anyone would borrow from you, do not turn away from him. ⁴³You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and you shall have hatred for your enemy.’