it easier to hate other people
than to love them. And so he stood one day at the foot of the hill and
said:

"You have all heard the saying, Love your friend and hate your enemy.
But that is not what I say. I say, Love your enemies, bless those who
curse you, and pray for those who use you badly. That is what God
does. He makes the sun rise on everybody, good or bad. He sends the
rain to fall on everyone, no matter who he is.

"If you love only those who love you, you don't deserve any credit for
that. That's what everybody does. Be like God. He is merciful, and you
ought to be merciful too. Forgive those who do you a wrong, or you
cannot expect God to forgive you."

[Illustration]

All the people thought that they were at least doing the right thing
in hating the Romans. How could anyone help hating those rough Roman
soldiers, who often came along and made Jews carry their packs for
them? But Jesus said,

"If a Roman soldier makes you carry his pack for a mile, carry it
another mile as well, to show that you love him."

Another thing that Jesus knew about his listeners was that many of
them were worried about money, and food and clothes. It was hard to
blame them for that; for some of the people were very poor, and were
never sure that they were going to get enough to eat.

Jesus was poor enough himself. His disciples were also poor, and they
got no richer by following him. Turning to the disciples, Jesus said
to them,

"Blessed are you who have nothing you can call your own."

The disciples pricked up their ears. "Blessed"--that meant to be
fortunate, or well off. What was good about having nothing? Jesus went
on:

"Blessed are you who have nothing, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you who often go hungry, you shall be fed later on.

"Blessed are you who are sad, the time will come when you will be
joyful.

"Blessed are you, when other people hate you, and will have nothing to
do with you, because you are my disciples. Be glad when that happens,
because that is what has happened to all God's servants. God will
reward you for everything you suffer for my sake."

There was silence. Jesus looked out over the crowd and spoke again,

"Woe to you who are rich!"

Again the disciples were amazed. The rich people would not like that!
The disciples were poor themselves, but they wondered what was wrong
with being rich.

Jesus thought of a rich man whom he knew, who wore fine purple clothe