Pray For Your Enemy

In our Religion class Sister Superior had taught us that as Catholics, the Bible encourages us to love our enemies. Sister must be nuts saying that ... but when I open the Bible once, it is all there ... and one way of showing that love (Matthew 5:44) is to pray for those who have wronged and persecute us.

We do pray every day... and we are doing it to people we don't even know (like praying for Luzon lately who witness the fury and devastation of super typhoon Mawar/Betty.)  When Russia invaded Ukraine we pause for a moment and offer our silent prayers to the civilians who were caught in the middle of the crossfire. And we did pray also to the government of Russia & Ukraine...  that the soonest time possible they can find an alternative solution to this armed conflict.

Praying for your enemy is kind of in apropos and sounds way off especially if you have a boss who wrings your patience ... or a co-worker who exploits and sucks you dry, or a daughter whose daily routine is to ask for money ... but has the nerve to say you haven't done anything to me.

Yes, they are those people and the Bible has taught us to chill ... and refrain from giving ourselves to the invitation of revenge and resentment.

Here are the Bible samplings:

Luke 6:27-28 - But to you who are listening I say" Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Proverbs 24:17 - Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.

-Romans 12:14, 17-19 - Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Fo not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but let room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

-Romans 12:14, 17-19 -Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse . . . Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.