human
Love them who love us; or,
gpt
the difficulty is obviously lessened, if not in fact removed. But such a limit, while it might amount to prudence, would not reach up to beatitude.
human
If ye love them who love you, what do ye more than others?
gpt
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But who is thy neighbour? And Jesus answers,
human
This is iteration, but I venture it because I want us to confront the real insistence of this text. They who share our nature may be, and often are, those who hate us with or without a cause. There are people who perpetuate an existence on others which is little better than a moral and physical calamity. To tell us to tolerate them, not to speak about loving them, is like telling us to attempt the impossible. And yet Jesus did not forget these people when He said:
gpt
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you.
human
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.