One of the difficult teachings of Jesus is that of loving and praying for enemies. Many ask: how do I love someone who deliberately hurts me or plots my downfall? Is it not reasonable to protect one’s self from enemies than to love them? What sort of prayers should I pray for them. God has not commanded us to lose our guards near our enemies. So how then should I love my enemies. If you wish to know then read slowly…
Cf. Matthew 5:38-48
You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. How to Love your Enemies
Child of God, the command to love enemies means be charitable towards them: give them whatever that is good. Don’t deny them any good! This is because the best way to demonstrate love is to GIVE! The bible says in John 3:16: “for God so loved the world that He GAVE his only begotten Son…” The reason for giving (loving) is simple: we cannot conquer evil with evil but with good. For every good thing done to the enemy is a spiritual poison’ to them if they don’t repent. For it is written:
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you (Prov 25:21-22).
This demonstrates why Jesus did not deny Judas Iscariot the Sacred Priesthood and His Body and Blood at the Last Supper. Jesus allows Judas whom He knew will betray him to participate in everything but immediately Judas ate of the bread (the body of Christ) Satan entered into him:
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him…he went out. And it was night. (John 13:26-27.30)
2. How to Pray for enemies
Praying for enemies involves three actions: first pray that they repent and change their ways. If they refuse to repent, pray that their evil works be exposed, and if they further their evil acts, pray for divine Justice or retribution on them.
a. Pray for the enemy to repent
It is God’s plan that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth. Hence God does not wish the death of a wicked man, but their repentance and life. Hence it is written:
Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’ (Ezekiel 33:11)
b. Pray that their evil works be exposed and foiled
God protects always the rights of the righteous and preserves their lives from the evil plots of the wicked. For it is written: The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. (Ps 33:10)
Hence the Word of God calls us always to pray against the plots of the wicked:
And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thes 3:2-3)
c. Pray for Divine Justice or retribution over the enemy.
God commands us not to avenge our enemies by ourselves (Deut 32:35) that He would avenge on our behalf. Hence it is written:
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Rom 12:19)
Elsewhere St Paul speaks about divine justice, saying:
God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. (2 Thes 1:6-7)
TASK
Henceforth make it a point of duty to pray for the enemy, and do not deny them any good. The good is the only “poison” for that hardened enemy who has refused to repent. Show them love and pray for them. for that is your weapon of destruction.
I Pray for you
May the Lord deliver you from the hands of your enemies as you serve God in holiness, in Jesus name. Amen.
Thank you so much Father Simone for this. 🙏
Thanks dearest, God bless you
Thank You fr , all i pray for is for GOD to give us the strength to obey his commands… It’s not easy to love those that hate you.
Yes its true, that is why we need to listen more to God to make it possible.
Oh Lord grant us the strength to love our enemies and allow you avenge for us for you Oh Lord are a just God
I say Amen to your prayers.
I’ve come to realize from this reflection that the only way to deal with our enemies is by being good to them, for the goodness we show towards them is like a poison if they do not repent. If we do bad to our enemies, we become like them making ourselves enemies as they are.. The best thing is to be good to them which shows the difference.
Thank you fr
You are right dear. Don’t become an enemy like the enemy…strong words there. God bless
Thank you so much Padre. This message is timely in my life and I have learnt how to go about it now. May God bless you and continue to make you flourish. I pray for myself and implore you to pray along with me for the grace to live peacefully with those who make life unnecessarily difficult for me. Amen
I thank God this message came through for you at this moment. May God heal you . Amen
Thank you.
Now, I know how to pray for my enemies.