The meaning of Hating once Life

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 4th Week - Saturday*

*Feast of St John De  Britto*

*Gospel : John 12:20-32*

*First Reading : 1 Cor 9:19-27*

*The meaning of Hating once Life*

*1) Jesus on Hating ones life*

Jesus says *Those who hate their life in this world, will keep it for Eternal life*

The question is how to hate ones life? We have heard about loving ones life, but not hating ones life. Is Jesus telling us to hate our own life??

Then what is the meaning of this expression? 

The various explanations could be the following

*2) Hating ones life means not living according to the worldly standards*

The standards of the world are very simple *Eat, drink, make merry and enjoy life*

The world says, go after the pleasures of the flesh, power, money, wealth, property and the worldly things 

The world says, life is there to enjoy. After death nothing can be done. So enjoy life in all ways 

So this is the view of the world. Those who choose this life, will lose their life. And those who go against such view will live their life for eternity 

Going against the worldly standards is nothing but, hating ones life for the sake of eternal life

*3) Hating means following Jesus and not the world*

From the Gospel of the day, the above idea is found 

Hating oneself means following Jesus and saying no to the standards of this world 

Saying no to the worldly standards, results in challenging the desires of the flesh, which ultimately results in hating oneself 

Following Jesus means, living according to the standards of the Gospel, which once again, a strong blow to the worldly  desires of our life 

*4) Hating means Serving the Lord*

This particular idea is also found in today's Gospel

Serving Lord means, seeking the welfare of the others and not the self 

At times we work for our selfish interests, to accumulate wealth, to secure a name, to get power and authority. All these revolves around the self and self glory

Serving needs a total selflessness, free from greed and selfish interests

Such a way of serving demands the control over our bodily self which craves for pleasures of this world 

*5) Hating the self in simple terms*

When a person does the following things, it amounts in hating his/her life in this world for the sake of eternal life 

Forgiveness

Simplicity

Humility

Sacrifice

Love

Sharing

Almsgiving

Prayerfulness

Self discipline

*6) Am I ready to hate my worldly life?*

This is the basic requirement to become the follower of Jesus 

One can't love both, the worldly life and the heavenly life. One form of life has to be hated. Choice is ours

Worldly life has an end. Heavenly life has no end. 

So what is my choice??

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*