Hatred

This is such a bitter subject to deal with, for when we deal with it, it is usually for all the wrong reasons.

Hatred has been responsible for the currently 5 dead officers in Dallas.  But it has also been responsible for the deaths of 49 in the Orlando nightclub, and the nine murdered in the church in Charleston, and the 13 at Ft. Hood, and the 2996 dead on 9/11, and....  What of Syria, Ukraine, Kosovo, or if you're older (like some of us), what of Northern Ireland, or Watts, or Kent State?

You see, there is never an 'end' to destruction when hatred is involved.  Those who hate cannot be satisfied until only their perspective remains.  And the number dead, the atrocities committed in maiming and mauling innocents - these things do not matter to those filled with hate.

As followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are called to something greater than this.  We are called to love, not only those whom we know and trust, but also those who hate us.  We are to return love for hatred.

You will ask, "But Father, isn't there a righteous place for hatred?"  And the answer is, "Certainly there is!"  But if we follow where our Lord leads, we come to the understanding that righteous hatred is directed at evil, and not at people.  "You who love the Lord, hate evil." (Ps 97:10)  Before every Divine Liturgy, the priest performs a ritual cleansing of himself, washing his hands, and he offers a prayer from Psalm 26.  But in the text that immediately precedes this prayer, there is wisdom again about hatred, as the Psalmist teaches, "I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked."  And then the aforementioned prayer.  "I will wash my hands in innocence, so that I will go about Your altar, O Lord, that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works.  Lord, I love the beauty of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells.  Do not gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, men whose right hands are full of bribes, whose mouths are full of blood and treachery.  As for me, I shall walk in my integrity.  Deliver me and save me.  My foot stands on level ground.  In the churches, I will bless the Lord." (Ps 26:2-12)

We are indeed to hate evil.  And for this, there is much at which we must direct righteous hatred and indignation within our world.  This is not, however, to translate into our hating others.  St. John the Theologian taught us exactly because of our Lord's example, "Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.  He who does not love his brother abides in death.  Whoever hates his brother is a murderer..." (1John 3:13-15)

When hatred is allowed to change the human heart to bring that passion to bear upon another person, any other person, then we have left the path laid out for us by the Savior.  Consider His own path walked to gain our salvation.  Those whom He created, His own servants, spat in His face, beat Him with reeds and lashes, mocked Him, scourged Him, nailed His emaciated Body to the Cross, pierced His head with thorns, His hands and feet with nails, His side with a spear.  And what response did He give (in order to teach us, at times like this)?  "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

There is but one path for us to follow.  We cannot teach others the Love of Christ by returning hate for hate.  And take note that there is no room in any of these words, either from Scripture or from a sinful priest, for separation of interpretation based on something as insignificant as pigments in the skin or country of origin.

We pray for the souls of those departed, yesterday, and for all the yesterday's past.  And we pray that our Lord will bless us to receive the Spirit of Love for brother and sister from His Holy Spirit, that we might in our lifetime see the abolition, not of racial tension, not of terrorism, or of nationalism, but of their mutual root - the hatred of one person for any other!

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love each other, even as I have loved you." (John 13:34)