We all know them.
They will argue with anything you say.
They will disagree with you for the sake of disagreement.
They will make life difficult for you no matter how hard you try.
We all know them.
Perhaps we are one of them.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
They aren't easy to live with, work with, deal with no matter where we encounter them.
Can you imagine how Jesus felt when He began His public ministry?
There were those who didn't believe or understand.
I'm sure they ran to the Temple guards and reported Jesus and His followers for His outrageous beliefs.
"He just said He was the Son of God!"
"How dare He cure on the Sabbath?"
"He eats with sinners."
"I saw Him wash the feet of a sinner!"
"He said He forgives sins!"
I'm sure He was refused entry into some houses because they feared the Temple Guards and because they were just difficult people.
Did Jesus give up on these people?
No, He left Himself available for them, and some came in the darkness of night to see Him and learn.
Did He refuse to pray for these people?
No, He prayed for all His Children, His brothers and sisters.
Did Jesus strike back at them when they hurt His feelings by calling Him names or spitting at Him?
No, He worked in their lives to bring them to eternal life.
When Jesus was being tortured, did He curse His oppressors?
No, He prayed for them.
When the soldiers whipped Him at the pillar, did Jesus refuse to love them?
No, His love is unending.
When the soldiers nailed Him to His cross, did Jesus extend His Mercy to them?
Yes, He forgave them and the Father poured down graces of love and forgiveness.
How can we do less?
A mother who lost her second daughter to gun violence showed her grace filled soul when she forgave her daughter's killers and prayed that they would seek God's grace of forgiveness for themselves.
How can we do less?
Difficult people are, at best, difficult, and, at times, dangerous,
but how can we do less than forgive them and offer God's love?
Yet, they are a blessing.
From them we can develop our gifts of Mercy and Love.
From difficult people we can learn patience and extend that patience to others.
From difficult people we can grow spiritually by practicing the virtues.
From difficult people we can learn to become less judgmental.
From difficult people we can learn to show the love of God to our fellow man.
When we behave as a Child of God, we grow in grace.
When we behave as a Child of God, we please the Father.
When we behave as a Child of God, we are blessed.
The blessing we have passed on to a difficult person returns to us in fullness.
By blessing we are blessed.
"God bless us all," said Tiny Tim.
He will. He does.
Amen!
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