Praying for our Enemies

 July 19, 2017

Ordinary Time – Season of Stability

“It’s very hard to hate somebody you are praying for,” a friend once told me. The wisdom of these words! The very nature of prayer, if it is sincere, will lead us to see our enemies with new eyes, to have a growing compassion for them. It’s very hard to hold onto hate in the midst of prayer. Jesus advises us, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. These are not idle words, impossible to achieve, but very possible.

Whenever I’ve found myself in conflict with another, if I can only remember to lift that person up in prayer, then I am healed. The conflict fades away, loses its importance in my eyes. Major irritations become minor annoyances in the light of prayer.

Ordinary life is full of conflicts, some major, some minor. Sometimes the small annoyances of everyday life can grow to such a great importance that they threaten not only our peace of mind, but our relationship with those we hold dear. All the more reason to pray–pray for those we hate, and pray for those we love, yet find irritating.

And if we are lucky, they will pray for us as well.

Rather, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.”     Romans 12:20-21

This post is part of a series of reflections on the Church year.   click here to follow blog