Unkind enemies

Jesus said to his disciples: You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5: 43-48)

Feeling aversion for those who wish to harm us is not a sin. In fact, it is normal to feel this way. Indeed, Jesus does not say "your enemies are nice", but rather "to love your enemies." Jesus wants us to desire our enemies’ true good. Feelings of aversion become sinful when we turn them into hatred without allowing room for the forgiveness of our enemies. Even so, we must remember to judge sin but not the sinner. Have we always done this in our lives?