Not hating our enemies is hard.

So, I'm sure you're at least vaguely aware of the massacre that's happening in Syria. ISIS. Killing innocent Christians. Fear that something like this could move to America. Fear that it already has.

I saw something on Facebook: a plead for God to end the lives of those who were ending the lives of the Christians in their communities. I was concerned by this. By praying for the death of someone, doesn't that sink us to our enemies' level? If we're at the level of praying for someone's death, the hatred we must be harboring in our hearts must be immense.

Part of me wants someone, anyone, to do something that will stop the slaughter in Syria, but I, we, need to remember that by dying for us, Christ called us to a high standard of love and mercy. When he was hung up on the cross, Christ did not die only for the good Catholics and Christians who say grace before meals and worship every Sunday. He did not die for and love everyone except ISIS.

He died that death for ISIS, too.

Are they doing wrong? Well... duh. Killing is wrong, no matter what someone has done, because life is a gift that God should be in control of. But that doesn't give us the right to assume that we are better than people and that they are too far gone for redemption and hopeless.

Look at St. Paul. ISIS is basically doing the same thing that St Paul did thousands of years ago: killing followers of Christ in the name of God the Father.

If we ever doubt the ability of those we dislike, our enemies, to have a change of heart, just remember: St Paul's actions prior to being knocked off his horse were uncannily similar to those of ISIS.