The Catholic Writers Guild

So, here in 2015, thanks to public media, we have gotten to a place where we judge, comment and hate rampantly and openly.  Everyone who has two cents to own a phone, twitter or face book account feels entitled to express any opinion at any time no matter how crude or poorly thought out it is.  Even though we regularly see the craziest and cruelest of opinions “out there,” some of us still express shock when it seems that pure hate has been openly expressed, posted, scrawled in a public place or exercised by one human upon another.  Why the surprise? Did we think, as a society, that the very loose and public expression of negative, personally aimed emotions somehow fixes them or makes them go away?

In the human personality, hate is neither new nor unique.  It has always been with us and drives things like genocide, discrimination and war. Recall that the very first crime recorded in Scripture was because of one brother’s hate for another.  Taylor Swift has even made an observation on this human trait with her new song Shake It Off.  The lyrics contain this line: “Haters gotta hate, hate, hate, hate, hate!”  As a believer and witness in the world, though, what’s your position on hate?

Hate has velocity.  It’s a strong and frightening emotion.  For a believer it would be easy to make a blanket declaration that hate is wrong, sinful and then wash our hands of the whole thing.  In the spiritual walk, though, Jesus expects us to be keener observers of the times around us. Hate can be big or hate can be small.  Hate can be directed away from you or toward you. As with all human behavior, the Lord expects us to react in a way that brings all people to grace, even haters.  Telling someone not to hate is really an incomplete notion. Criticizing them openly is merely a magnification of judgement and solves nothing.  Folks that hate openly are, in reality,  demonstrating  the most woundedness.  They should be surrounded with prayer rather than just ignored. If they are in your immediate circle, you can also go out of your way to show them kindness. What about the occasions, though, when hate is a personal matter?  What happens when the hate is aimed right at you?

First, congratulations are in order! Jesus himself gave us a “heads up” on this: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.” (Jn 15: 18-20) So when you experience that occurrence when, no matter what you do, people express hostility toward you, step back.  You have been singled out as a soldier of Christ even if the hater can’t put their finger on the reason for their disdain. Grief and/or retreat is not the position to take.  Go to prayer and meditate on John 15:18.  Then resolve to be even more Christ-like in the situation.  As Christ’s witnesses for the world, we must remember that we will not always live a life that is full of bubble-gum and ponies.  If that is the case, you must be doing something wrong!  Haters……….gotta be loved, loved, loved, loved!

KathrynCunningham

Kathryn is a retired junior high teacher. A convert with a love for the Church she believes that its teachings have a more than viable application for today's world. She writes practical theological for the people in the pews believing that they have as much right to good catechesis as our youth and converts. Her writings appear on Catholic web sites and local Church publications. She has even been published in the diocese of Australia and most recemtly Zenit. Kathryn holds a Master's in Theology and is a certified spiritual director. Learn more about Kathryn at: www.atravelersview.org