Uncompromised Allegiance to God by St. Gregory the Great 


"In this world let us love everyone even though he be our enemy; but let us hate him who opposes us on our way to God, though he be our relative [...]. We should then love our neighbor; we should have charity towards all -- towards relative and towards strangers -- but without separating ourselves from the love of God out of love for them" (St. Gregory the Great, "In Evangelia Homiliae", 37, 3).
St. Gregory the Great is clarifying the distinction between love for people and hatred for evil. He argues that our ultimate allegiance and love must be for God, and this love must not be compromised by human relationships, even with family.
The Command to Love All
St. Gregory emphasizes the Christian duty to love everyone, including one's enemies. This is a direct reflection of Christ's teaching to love one's neighbor. It means we should have a disposition of charity and good will towards all people, regardless of their actions towards us.
The Exception: When a Person Becomes an Obstacle
The key point is the caveat: we must "hate him who opposes us on our way to God." This isn't a call for personal malice or spite. Instead, it's a call to hate the sinful action or the opposition to God itself, not the person.  The "hatred" described here is a spiritual rejection of anything that threatens our relationship with God. When a relative or close person becomes an obstacle to our spiritual progress—by tempting us to sin, distracting us from prayer, or encouraging us to abandon our faith—we must spiritually "hate" or detach ourselves from that negative influence.
Prioritizing the Love of God
The final sentence synthesizes these points. We should have charity towards all—relatives and strangers alike—but this love should never lead us to abandon or diminish our love for God. Our love for others must be ordered correctly, meaning it must be a reflection of and subordinate to our primary love for God. This ensures that our earthly relationships do not become idols that pull us away from our ultimate purpose.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2025 09 14 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time & The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: The Paradox of the Crucifixion in Scripture

Image
Credits:  https://www.vaticannews.va/en/liturgical-holidays/feast-of-the-exaltation-of-the-holy-cross.html In light of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, our readings for today connect Numbers 21:4b-9, Philippians 2:6-11, and John 3:13-17 through the central theme of the exaltation of the cross , which transforms a symbol of humiliation into a sign of victory and salvation. Humiliation and Exaltation In the first reading, the Israelites' rebellion leads to a deadly plague of venomous snakes. God's remedy is to have Moses mount a bronze serpent on a pole, which becomes a sign of healing. The low point of suffering and death is linked to a remedy that brings life. In the second reading, St. Paul teaches that Jesus, who is God, "empties himself" (a concept known as kenosis ). He takes on the form of a servant and becomes obedient to the point of a shameful death on a cross. Because of this self-humiliation, God "greatly exalted him" and gave him a n...
Read more

21 December 2025, The Fourth Advent Sunday - Emmanuel: the Promise Kept

Image
Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Cycle A: First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14 Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7 Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24 Common Themes and Catechism Connections The readings for this Sunday converge on the pivotal moment of history where ancient prophecy meets reality: the Incarnation of God. 1. The Fulfillment of Prophecy and the Virgin Birth The central thread connecting Isaiah and Matthew is the miraculous sign of the Virgin Birth. Isaiah prophesies to King Ahaz that "the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son" (Is 7:14). Matthew explicitly identifies the conception of Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy (Mt 1:22-23).  CCC 497: The Catechism cites Matthew 1:18-25 and Isaiah 7:14, teaching that the Gospel accounts understand the virginal conception as a divine work that surpasses all human understanding and fulfills the promise given to Israel. CCC 498: Mentions that the silence of St. Mark's gospel and the New Testament Epistles regarding the vir...
Read more

09/28/2025 - The Sin of Indifference: Wealth, Justice, and Eternal Judgment

Image
Credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/artisticco?mediatype=illustration The common themes of the three readings for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C , on September 28, 2025, according to Catholic teachings, revolve around wealth and poverty, the condemnation of selfish indifference, and the call to social justice and moral responsibility. The readings are: First Reading: Amos 6:1a, 4–7 Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6:11–16 Gospel: Luke 16:19–31 (The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus) Condemnation of Selfish Indifference and Complacency All three readings harshly critique those who are preoccupied with their own comfort and luxury while remaining uncaring and indifferent to the suffering of the poor. In the first reading , Amos proclaims his third "Woe". This time against the complacent wealthy in Zion who indulge in extravagant living ("beds of ivory," "eat the lambs," "drink win...
Read more