From today’s Scripture: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”—Mt 5:44

One of our Glenmary Brothers once took a year to live as a hermit in order to pray for the world. During this time, he began to pray for the souls of Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini because he thought no one else would. 

To love our enemies is an invitation to wish only the best for every person regardless of how lost in sin and evil they may be. We do not pray for their harm but for their salvation. One thought that might prove helpful is to remember every person is a child of a mother who loves them. Or maybe their evil is because they did not have a mother who loved them. Either way, they are God’s child, and Mary is their mother. Afterall, we are taught to hate the sin, love the sinner.

Let us pray: Dear Jesus, help me overcome my anger toward those who have harmed me. Transform me into your disciple so I may see every person in the manner our heavenly father and blessed mother Mary does.

Today’s author is Father Steve Pawelk, Glenmary’s second vice president and novitiate director.

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