ON LOVE AND HATRED
“This is the message as you heard it from the beginning: that we are to love one another; not to be like Cain, who belonged to the Evil One and cut his brother’s throat; cut his brother’s throat simply for this reason, that his own life was evil and his brother lived a good life” (1John 3:11-12).
The Bible verses above highlight the differences between hate and love, as well as how a Christian believer should see love. Hatred often stems from jealousy. Out of jealousy Cain hated his brother Abel and eventually killed him. This is why hatred is regarded as the spiritual equivalence of murder. If you harbour hatred in your heart, you are not different from a murderer. Don’t waste your time fasting and praying if you cannot love sincerely.
John further teaches that “if you refuse to love, you must remain dead; to hate your brother is to be a murderer, and murderers, as you know, do not have eternal life in them” (1 John 3:15). Many Christians today claim to love God but harbour hatred and jealousy against their brothers and sisters.
Some prayer points in Church are made out of jealousy and hatred. Beloved, Christianity celebrates love not hatred. Christians are called to put that love into action via unselfish services. John says “My children, our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active” (1 John 3:18).
Last but not least, we are to lead people to Christ through love, just as Philip did in the gospel reading. We frequently scare people away from Christ and the Church because of our attitude. If you want to be healthy and grow in your Christian life, get rid of hatred from your heart.
LET US PRAY
Father, keep us firm in faith and love, and with Christ as the Shepherd of our souls bring us the glory you have promised. Amen.
1John 3:11-21/Psalm 99:1-5/John 1:43-51
HOMILY FOR THURSDAY 5 JANUARY 2023
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
