Year of Mercy Reflection

Friday, Mar. 04, 2016

I have a daughter in college. Being away from home, she routinely reads or listens to things I haven’t studied or know of. It’s a new experience for me; when she talks about the new things she has read, I often learn from her.

Recently she listened to a CD by Matthew Kelly about Jesus’ teaching of praying for our enemies. I was struck when my daughter said that in the Catholic Church we don’t pray for our enemies the way that we’re supposed to, despite what Jesus taught by word and example. I had to agree with her.  

Terrorists have struck fear in hearts around the globe. They have wiped out entire communities of Christians in countries where believers have lived since the time of the apostles. In the Prayers of the Faithful I have often heard, “Pray for persecuted Christians around the world.” I agree they need our prayers, but we need to do more.  

Jesus told us that beyond bearing wrongs patiently and forgiving offences willingly, we must open our hearts to our enemies and actually pray FOR them. I would love to hear, in the Prayers of the Faithful, “Pray for the members of terrorist groups and open their hearts to love.”

During this Year of Mercy, I challenge each of us to pray for our enemies as we would pray for our family members, that the Lord bless them and bring them to His love.

Charity Van Maren, LEM

Director of Religious Education

Saint Ambrose Parish