On Palm Sunday, a bomb ripped through St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Tanta, Egypt, killing at least 49 people and injuring 78.  A second suicide bomber detonated a blast outside of St. Marks Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria.  At least 18 died in that blast.

ISIS claimed responsibility.

As American Christians cheered Pres. Trump for lobbing cruise missiles into Syria, Father Boules George preached a message of peace and love directed at ISIS.  No cries for retribution. No call to arms. Not a hint of hatred. He titled his Eve of Monday Pascha  sermon “A Message to Those Who Kill Us.”

Father George thanked the bombers for strengthening the church. Then he proclaimed his love for those who hate them. It was a powerful Christian testimony that stands in stark contrast to the warmongering and quest for vengeance so prevalent in American churches.

“The second part of the message we want to send you is that we love you. And this, unfortunately, you won’t understand at all. Maybe when we thank you, you won’t believe us. But loving you – this you won’t even understand. Why won’t you understand it? Because this too is a teaching of our Christ. I long to talk to you about our Christ and tell you about how wonderful he is. See what Christ said: ‘If you love those who love you, you have no profit or reward with me. Even thugs and thieves love those who love them. Any gang loves its members. Even drug dealers like each other and take care of each other, right? But I want to tell you that ‘if you love those who love you, what reward have you…But I say to you, love your enemies.’ We Christians don’t have enemies. We don’t have enemies; others make enmity with us. The Christian doesn’t make enemies because we are commanded by God to love all of His creation. So, we love you because this is the teaching of our God – that I am to love you – no matter what you do to me. I love you very much. And I want to say one last thing to you: we’re praying for you.”

You can read the full transcript of the message HERE.