"May they burn in Hell!"
He's a Muslim.
Is that what he really wants? For people to burn in Hell?
"Oh, but he's a Muslim!" you say
Yes, I do say. But -- and yes, indeed, this intro is deliberate --
Unless we get on our high horse…
My friend was talking about ISIS.
And unless we get on our high horse…
"May they burn in Hell!"
Here's the thing: this sucks.
I'm not a Muslim. Nor am I a Jew. I'm a Catholic, but, for the sake of my point? I'm a Jesus-lover. A God-lover.
And, as such? I know that war sucks. Persecution sucks.
Wishing anybody to "burn in Hell"…that sucks, too.
Because this, friends, is not how peace is achieved.
Jesus said it better: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Saints above (saints above!) have repeated these words over, and over, and over again. And died doing so.
And, I believe -- no, I know -- that they were and remain gloriously in Heaven...for doing so.
Saul approved of Stephen's martyrdom. Stephen prayed for him…while dying.
And, as Saint Augustine reminds us: "If Stephen hadn't prayed for Saul, the Church wouldn't have a Saint Paul."
Read this account of Saint Paul Miki's last words…and if you're able to do so? Get off your bleeping high horse.
As I come to this supreme moment of my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek baptism and be Christians themselves.
May God continue to bless you.
