July 4th: Feast of the Royal New Martyrs

Love and Hate: St. John 15:17-16:2, especially vs. 24: "'If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.'" On the night He was betrayed, Christ Jesus our Savior was acutely aware of the violent, imminent storm of hatred rushing toward Him - the terrible things we know as His Passion. This furious enmity He attributes to those whom He identifies simply as "the world" (vss. 18,19). Further, to all of us whom He has chosen "out of the world" (vs. 19), He adds another, solemn warning: "'...they will also persecute you'" (vs. 20). He earnestly desires that you and I be prepared for like fury. Why? "'...that you should not be made to stumble'" (vs. 1), for "'the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service'" (vs. 2). Beloved, do not shrug off His warning because you have lived in a momentary lull. Our God has the vantage point above all history. He sees every bit of the hatreds, persecutions, and martyrdoms aimed at Him, His Father, and at us - His servants - through all time. So, how does He begin this counsel? He commands us to "love one another" (vs. 17). Yes, from His vantage point, He has shown us how it really is: that we are not "of the world," and that we urgently need to be kind, thoughtful, supportive, and loving to one another. Think about it: love is especially what we must have in the face of the sort of naked, implacable hatred of which He speaks and that will be ours because we "bear witness," having been with Him "from the beginning" (vs. 27 ). Very simple: the world has "'seen and also hated both Me and My Father'" (vs. 24); and never forget that "the time is coming" for us (vs. 2). This is insider information that we are being given from the reliable One Who truly knows. Oh, pray God that we will remain on the love side of the equation and not rejoin the world in the hate that we renounced along with "Satan, and all his angels, and all his works, and all his service, and all his pride." Having received the seal of the gift of "1...the Spirit of truth Who proceeds from the Father...'" (vs. 26), please, may we never turn back. Listen to St. Seraphim of Sarov: "One must not nurse in one's heart malice or hatred toward a neighbor who bears ill-will, but we must strive to love him and, as much as possible, do good, following the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ: Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you" (see Mt. 5:44). You do not feel very loving? That is all right. It is not God's highest and best, but the condition need not be fatal, principally because love is not foremost feelings, but choices, decisions, actions we can take whether or not we feel like doing them. Your eternal life and mine are at stake in this world. Listen, therefore, to the caution of St. Maximos the Confessor who had his tongue cut out for sticking by the truth: "strive to cleanse the nous (which the Lord calls 'heart') from hatred and dissipation. For these defile the nous and do not allow it to see Christ, who dwells in it by the grace of Holy Baptism." Love may be cultivated and nursed in a determined way just as hatred is harbored by those whom St. John of the Ladder identifies as the spiteful and slanderous: "they are piteously plunged in the spirit of hatred; and with pleasure and without a qualm, they slander the teaching or affairs or achievements of their neighbor." St. John also knew that "a banquet of love dispels hatred, and sincere gifts soothe a soul." We can choose to take our place at that banquet table of the Lord Jesus, feast on love, and share platters of kindness and bowls of support to those around us in their hunger. You have seen the Lord's works. You have received the Heavenly Spirit. Now is the time. Sleepers, let us awake! Christ shall give us light! (see Eph. 5:14).