Thomas More was a remarkable individual who wrote many books and was devoted to the spiritual life. In fact, he would set aside one day per week for prayer and meditation. His most famous literary work is Utopia.
When King Henry VIII decided to divorce Catherine of Aragon, More told him that he could not support that decision. Then, when the king named himself to be the Head of the church, Thomas More refused to support him in that role.
Therefore, King Henry had More put in prison. He was subsequently tried and executed. He went to his death with Christian composure, and he even joked with his executioner. It amazes me that Thomas could be joyful even in the face of capital punishment.
He wrote many things, but these lines are particularly meaningful:
Of worldly substance, friends, liberty, life and all, to set the loss at right nought,
For the winning of Christ. To think my most enemies my best friends,
for the brethren of Joseph could never have done him so much good with their love and favour
as they did him with their malice and hatred. These minds are more to be desired of every man,
than all the treasure of all the princes and kings, Christian and heathen, were it gathered and laid
together all upon one heap.
He is so right about this. Our enemies are our friends, our best friends indeed, and they are our teachers, as well. We learn so much from them about forgiveness, ourselves, and the proper way to respond to negative people and circumstances. Without persecution and opposition, we would never grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, it is clear that we must love God with all our being and love our neighbors (even those who wrong us) as we love ourselves. When we are able to reach that level, we will be able to say with Paul (and Thomas More): "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that cuse you, be good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:44-45).
Are you thankful for your enemies? Do you pray for them? Do you bless them? Do you love them? Do you realize what they (unwittingly) do for you?
