Love My Haters

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  Even 'sinners' love those who love them." -Luke 6:32

There is a remarkable story of the priest who heard a knock at the church doors one night.  He invited in a man who asked for a place to sleep.  The priest offered him a warm dinner and a bed.  Later that night, the priest was woken from his sleep by a noise, only to find that very man stealing from the church.  Startled, the man used the silver candlestick that he was putting into his bag to hit the priest over the head.  The priest was rendered unconscious, and the man dropped the bloodied silver candlestick and ran into the night.

A few hours later, there was another knock at the door.  The priest, still awake and recovering from his blow to the head, slowly walked over and opened it.  Two policemen stood at the door, the thief in custody.  They had arrested the thief when they found him trying to sleep in the local park and discovered the church property in his bag.  The thief looked dismayed- there was no way out for him.

But then, the priest did a curious thing.  He left the door and then came back with the very candlestick the thief had used as a weapon against him.  The thief then knew his fate and lowered his head.  However, the priest spoke, "This man has church property only because I gave it to him.  And I am glad you have brought him back; he has forgotten one item," and he handed the thief the silver candlestick.  "Now go," he said, "and be good."  The thief was speechless.  After the policemen left, the thief stayed with the priest and weeped for forgiveness.