Ethnic violence between the Muslim North and Christian South in Nigeria broke out over the weekend with 500 deaths, many of them women and children driven from their homes by fire and then killed by machetes. This time the attackers were Muslim herdsmen and the victims were Christian. The attack was apparently launched to avenge January’s violence, when Christians did the killing.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:43-45