Jesus said, “Love your enemy.” So does that mean you should love the devil?
Some people are harder to love than others! However, I doubt Jesus was intending the fallen angels when he said “love your enemies” (see Mt 5:44 and Lk 6:35). Instead, I believe he meant for us to love fellow human beings, even those who persecute or hate us. In this context, to love means to will the good for our enemies–to pray for them, to not return evil for evil, but to do good to them and wish them well. To love our enemies does not mean we have to be friends and actually like or admire them personally.
I think it’s a whole different story for the fallen angels. There is no way we can do good to them, no way to show them love. Prayer can’t help the devil. He has made his choice to rebel against God, and he as a spiritual being cannot change his mind. Satan has already been cast out of Heaven, and he has been defeated on earth by Jesus Christ. All that awaits the devil is his final defeat in the end and to be cast in the lake of fire (Rev 20:10). Nonetheless, God, who is love, still loves the devil. However, God’s love probably feels like torment to the devil who is so filled with hate. Our role in all this is simply to stay close to Christ our victorious Savior and “to reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness” as we pray and live out our Baptismal promises.
-Fr. Greg
