St Maximus the Confessor: For God loves all men equally and wishes them...

But I say to you," says the Lord, "love your enemies...do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you" (Matt 5:44). Why did he command this? To free you from hatred, irritation, anger and rancor, and to make you worthy of the supreme gift of perfect love. And you cannot attain such love if you do not imitate God and love all men equally.