My Dear People, 

Jesus was thinking how different the thoughts of men were, from his own, and the reasons so many do not accept an invitation from God. Thus, to the large crowd of people gathered around Him, He began to say convincingly that it was impossible to reconcile their thoughts and interests with the thoughts of God and eternal interests! He exclaimed: “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. Whoever does not carry his own cross and comes after me cannot be my disciple.”

It is evident that Jesus does not mean to hate one’s dear ones. He speaks of one’s closest relationships, and even of one’s very own life, to describe those things we care about the most. In the same way, He said, (at another time): “pluck out your eye, cut off your hand or your foot if they are the cause of scandal.”

It can happen that parents or people close to us could be against the interests of God, and then it is necessary for us to hate them—that is, to stand opposed to their ways, and to follow a life completely opposite to theirs. Nevertheless, Jesus clearly says, if, what is dear to us or what we are attached to is in opposition to the precepts or the will of God, these must be rejected and opposed by us, as one who hates another.

Hate is establishing a complete separation between two people making them irreconcilable. It is the most effective expression of how our separation should be from the world; from the spirit of the world, and, from all that draws us in opposition to the precepts and love of Jesus. 

It is necessary to deny oneself and be convinced that you cannot embrace the Law of the Redeemer without embracing the cross and following Him on the way of immolation and calvary. This is essential and fundamental for whomever really wants to be perfect and attain Paradise. 

Whoever does not detach oneself from everything and does not persist to fight the world, the devil and the flesh, becomes like insipid salt, no longer fit for the soil or for the manure pile—that is, it cannot be used as waste, either to enrich the soil directly or to be mixed with fertilizer—but rather is thrown out; rejected by God, and one will lose eternal life. Jesus adds:  “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear” while addressing His Disciples who would have to build up the Church and fight the great battle with the world, with the devil, and with the flesh.  They, more than anyone else, would have to repudiate themselves and renounce everything for the love of God.

The Apostles could not be expected to attain places of honor in the world, nor could they aspire to make arrangements for their families. The apostolate requires a complete renunciation of any bond with the family and any material interest, because they had to go into the world to preach the good news with great tribulation, and even at the cost of losing their own lives. 

Our path, too, on this earth is a path of self-denial and sacrifices if we want to follow Jesus and to work to spread His kingdom. Almost always, those who understand our great aspirations the least are our closest relatives. In this case, it then becomes a necessity for us to counteract their ideas or their views in order to follow Jesus faithfully.

We are not for this earth, and so we should not have material comforts, lofty careers, honors, great residences, nor speak of wanton pleasure and revelry as goals for our lives. Let us abandon ourselves to God, seek His Will and His glory! 

Let us follow Jesus faithfully and persevere in serving Him until the end, and in so doing attain eternal happiness. 

[Reflection on the Gospel of Luke by Don Dolindo Ruotolo ]

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Vincent Clemente