Superbowl Sunday

Today is Superbowl Sunday. Packers vs. Steelers. It is that time of the year again. Time to bring out the crab cakes and soda. Everything throughout the season has been working towards this day. The hard work of these two teams has brought them to where they are.

In sports there is a lot of rivalry. Where I'm from the Bruins and the Bengals are crosstown rivals. We battle each other in every sport. Even off of the field there is tension between the two schools. It's almost like we are enemies just because of where we get our education. I'm sure it is just the same in other places. It's funny how we treat each other sometimes.

A friend of mine wrote me an email today that really touched my heart. She was a girl I got the privilege of teaching in Crescent City who was just recently baptized. She shared with me a story about how someone close to her gave her an earful about joining the church. What he said had really hurt her, but instead of getting angry and leaving the Church she took her concerns to the Lord. She prayed FOR him instead of against him. She prayed that he would find God and that he would be blessed. She prayed that he would come to see the truth. I'm so grateful for her story. She loved him instead of esteeming him as her enemy. I admire the purity and faith of this daughter of God.

Jesus Christ has taught us this higher law. He speaks to us in the Gospel of Matthew:

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

We need to love everyone. Especially those who we would normally esteem as our enemies. There should be no rivalries because all are one to God. Even amongst the different religious sects there should be no animosity. We are Gods children. When I think of this story I think of the fruit that comes from living the gospel.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" Gal 5

True conversion comes when we exercise faith by showing Christlike love to everyone. Remember to love your neighbor this Superbowl Sunday. React with love.