ACC ~ Luke 14 v25 - 27

THE PARADOX OF LOVING ENEMIES AND HATING ONE’S OWN FAMILY

AUGUSTINE: On another occasion, the Lord says, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own soul, cannot be my disciple.” As a rule, this is more upsetting to the mind of new Christians who are eager to begin at once to live in accordance with the precepts of Christ. To those who do not fully grasp its meaning, it would seem contradictory. … He has condescended to call his disciples to the eternal kingdom. He also called them brothers. In the kingdom these relationships are transcended, because “there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither male nor female, neither slave nor freeman, but Christ is all things and in all.” [1] The Lord says, “For in the resurrection they will neither be married nor marry, but will be as the angels of God in heaven.” [2] Whoever wishes to prepare himself now for the life of that kingdom must not hate people but those earthly relationships through which the present life is sustained, the temporary life that begins at birth and ends with death. Whoever does not hate this necessity does not yet love that other life in which there will be no condition of birth and death, the condition that makes marriages natural on earth. SERMON ON THE MOUNT 15. [3]

[1] Gal 3:28; Col 3:11

[2] Mt 22:30.

[3] FC 11:60-61**.

JESUS PERMITS US TO LOVE FAMILY BUT NOT MORE THAN GOD

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He says, “He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. He that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” [1] By adding “more than me,” it is plain that he permits us to love, but not more than we love him. He demands our highest affection for himself and that very correctly. The love of God in those who are perfect in mind has something in it superior both to the honor due to parents and to the natural affection felt for children. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 105. [2]

[1] Mt 10:37.

[2] CGSL 421-22**.

THE CHURCH IS THE HOLY MOTHER OF YOUR NATURAL MOTHER

AUGUSTINE: The Lord gives the signal for us to stand guard in camp and to build the tower from which we may recognize and ward off the enemy of our eternal life. The heavenly trumpet of Christ urges the soldier to battle, and his mother holds him back. …

What does she say or what argument does she give? Perhaps is it those ten months when you lay in her womb and the pangs of birth and the burden of rearing you? You must kill this with the sword of salvation. You must destroy this in your mother that you may find her in life eternal. Remember, you must hate this in her if you love her, if you are a recruit of Christ and have laid the foundations of the tower. Passers by may not say, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.” That is earthly affection. It still has the ring of the “old man.” [1] Christian warfare invites us to destroy this earthly affection both in ourselves and in our relatives. Of course, no one should be ungrateful to his parents or mock the list of their services to him, since by them he was brought into this life, cherished and fed. A man should always pay his family duty, but let these things keep their place where higher duties do not call.

Mother church is also the mother of your mother. She conceived you both in Christ. … Know that her Spouse took human flesh that you might not be attached to fleshly things. Know that all the things for which your mother scolds you were undertaken by the eternal Word that you might not be subject to the weakness of flesh. Ponder his humiliations, scourging and death, even the death of the cross. [2] LETTER 243. [3]

[1] Eph 4:22; Col 3:9; Rom 6:6.

[2] Mt 20:19; Mk 10:34; Lk 18:32-33; Jn 19:1-3; Phil 2:8.

[3] :1–24:53 PRELIMINARY REMARKS | ON THE GOSPEL

TO BE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS

BASIL THE GREAT: The Father did not send the only-begotten Son, the living God, to judge the world but to save the world. [1] True to himself and faithful to the will of the good God his Father, he points to a doctrine whereby we may be made worthy of becoming his disciples with his severe decree. He says, “If any man comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, and his wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” This hatred teaches the virtue of piety by withdrawing us from distractions and does not lead us to devise hurtful schemes against one another. “Whoever,” says the Lord, “does not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Receiving the baptism of water, we make this same agreement when we promise to be crucified and to die and to be buried with him. [2] CONCERNING BAPTISM 1.1. [3]

[1] Jn 12:47.

[2] Rom 6:4-11.

[3] FC 9:346-47**.

THE APOSTLES LEFT EVERYTHING

TERTULLIAN: If you want to be the Lord’s disciple, you must take up your cross and follow the Lord. Take up your stress and your tortures or at least your body, which is like a cross. Parents, wives, children are all to be left for God’s sake. Are you hesitating about crafts, businesses and professions for the sake of children or parents? The proof that family as well as crafts and business are to be left for the Lord’s sake was given us when James and John were called by the Lord and left both father and ship. It was given when Matthew was roused from the seat of custom and when faith allowed no time even to bury a father. ON IDOLATRY 12. [1]

[1] LCC 5:96*.

THE FORM OF MARTYRDOM AMID CIVIL PEACE IS THE DEATH OF SELF-WILL

SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN: I heard his holy voice speaking to all without distinction. “He who does not leave father and mother and brothers and all that he possesses and take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” I learned from Scripture and from experience itself that the cross comes at the end for no other reason than that we must endure trials and tribulations and finally voluntary death itself. In times past, when heresies prevailed, many chose death through martyrdom and various tortures. Now, when we through the grace of Christ live in a time of profound and perfect peace, we learn for sure that cross and death consist in nothing else than the complete putting to death of self-will. He who pursues his own will, however slightly, will never be able to observe the law of Christ the Savior. DISCOURSES 20.1. [1]

[1] SNTD 232**.

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