Love vs. Hate

Homily for Wednesday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time

Today’s readings open up an interesting paradox. In the reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, St. Paul’s admonition says: “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.” If one takes this admonition to heart, it really says that we owe everything to one another. Loving one another covers a great many necessary actions.

However, the opening words of the Gospel text for today quotes Jesus as saying: “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

It would seem that the two readings for Wednesday of the 31^st Week in Ordinary Time are diametrically opposed to one another. These readings present us with a clash between the words “love” and “hate.” Obviously, we already know that there is no such clash. Jesus uses the word “hate,” but we know that the Greek word used for “hate” does not carry the same emotional connotations that it does in English. In fact, Jesus is really saying that we must make our relationship to him more important than all of our other relationships including those relationships that are part of our family life. Another way of saying this is that we must let go of all attachments that would weigh us down as we make our pilgrimage to life with Jesus. We will not be able to carry our cross if we are attached to personal relationships or possessions.

Which brings us back to St. Paul’s opening words. When love directs the Christian’s moral decisions, the interest of law in basic concerns, such as familial relationships, sanctity of life, and security of property, is safeguarded.

The example that Jesus gives us in the Eucharist is what is asked of us. Our lives are lived for others, beginning with Jesus, just as his life was lived for others beginning with the Father.