Word of the Week

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Enmity: Ecthara (Gk.): meaning “hatred, enmity”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church cites Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (Gal.5:19-21) when contrasting the work of the flesh against the fruits of the Spirit (CCC, 1852). The sin of enmity, or hatred, is among the sins that Paul lists that acts against the charity of God (CCC, 2203). As it is Satan who works out of a hatred for God (CCC, 395), man must fight any interior conflict arising out of the spirit of “jealousy, infidelity, and domination” that may lead to hatred and separation of proper fellowship (CCC, 1606).

The aforementioned Greek can be found six times in the New Testament. Aside of the lone Gospel account found in Luke that speaks of the hatred between Pilate and Herod (Lk.23:12), each account draws out the self-centered nature of the flesh in contrast with the other-centered nature of a life in the Spirit. Paul establishes that the lusts of the flesh lead to a hostility towards God, and ultimately, a hatred to the things of God (cf. Gal.5:20; Rom.8:7). James reminds us that this hatred of God leads to a “friendship with the world” and ultimately leaves us an “enemy of God” (James 4:4). This is in stark opposition to Abraham who was earlier cited in James epistle as a ‘friend of God” because of his faithfulness to God (James 2:21).

In Baptism, we have become a new man in Christ, and we are called to sustain this newness through a life of daily prayer. Prayer leads to inner tranquility and it is this peace that breaks down the barriers of hostility (Eph.2:13-118). Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us be reconciled with God and forgive those who have hurt us that hatred would be vanquished and peace reign in our hearts.

 

“Think then, how vast an evil is it, when God has employed so many methods to reconcile us, and has effected it, that we should again fall back into enmity!”

--St. John Chrysostom

Primary Texts Consulted

•  Catholic Bible. Suggested trans. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
•  Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition, 1997

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