“King Herod laid hands on the church.” (Acts 12:1)

Jesus taught his followers to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. What could possibly be offensive about that? How could that message lead to persecution and imprisonment?

The message of the gospel runs contrary to the wisdom of the world. That reality led King Herod to kill James and imprison Peter. What was true then is true now. The powers that be have a vested interest in keeping us divided and antagonistic towards each other.

Christ’s call to love our neighbors and pray for our enemies ought to lead us to a different way of being in the world.