# God is love, not hate: praying for our enemies
*2016-07-12*

> Bill Young discusses the necessity of praying for those who oppose us, emphasizing that God is pure love and desires the salvation of all souls.

## The nature of God

God is love, not hate. Where there is love, there can never be hate. When we think of our prayers for our enemies—those who may want to do us harm—we should pray that they understand who God truly is. God is not hurting other people; He is not raping or belittling women. That is not God. It is vital to learn who you are following, because you may not like the results of where you are going.

## Perspective on enemies

Everyone views 'the enemy' a little differently. For example, in the United States, Benedict Arnold was considered a traitor. However, while growing up in upstate New York, I took a trip across the border into Canada and saw a statue of him there; in that context, he was considered a hero. Sometimes, those we call enemies are simply lost souls. There are those today who believe that killing and hurting people in the name of God will lead them to heaven. But God wants us to help all souls get to heaven, not through killing, but through His love.

## A prayer for the lost

We must ask for the grace to carry out the heroic act of praying for our enemies. For the sake of the precious blood of Jesus, we pray that our enemies may repent and sing His praises one day with us in heaven. Jesus, the final sacrifice for peace, love, and the salvation of the world, please hear and grant this prayer.

## The example of St. Oliver Plunkett

Today is the feast day of St. Oliver Plunkett, the famous Irish priest and bishop who was martyred by his enemies in England. I am sure he prayed that his enemies would one day find the truth. Even when it seems impossible for a group or an individual to find the truth, God has a way of making it happen. It may take some time, but it will happen.

*Pray for the souls of your enemies, trusting that God is love and that He can lead any soul to the truth.*