The Holy Prophet Habakkuk; Blessed Hieromartyr Ivan Sleziuk, Bishop.
Nativity Fast.
1 Timothy 1:8-14; Luke 14:25-35.
Read Luke 14:25-35
Jesus gives His disciples a new commandment: “love one another; even as I have loved you” (Jn. 13:34). Yet, we also hear Him say: “if any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk. 14:26). It seems contradictory that Jesus commands us to “love” while at the same time telling us to “hate.” Jesus never sinned or broke any of the commandments, and so He knew and obeyed the commandment to “honor your father and mother” (Ex. 20:12). When Jesus tells His disciples to “hate,” He does not mean this literally. To be Jesus’ follower, we must consider all things as subordinate to our relationship with God and not allow anything or any human relation to take precedence over God in our lives. “God is love” (1 Jn. 4:8), and St. John Chrysostom writes that “God loves us more than a father, mother, friend, or any else could love, and even more than we are able to love ourselves.” God’s love for us goes beyond even our own capacity to love. Let us remember to love God above all things.