His Holiness Pope Shenouda III discusses the commandment of St. Paul the Apostle: “Hate what is evil and cling to what is good” (Romans 12), explaining that there is a difference between abandoning sin and hating it from the heart. Abandoning sin means refraining from practicing it, whereas truly hating it means rejecting it through one’s actions, thoughts, heart, and feelings. A person who hates sin does not accept it, pursue it, or allow it to settle within. The Pope emphasizes that the goal of the spiritual life is not merely outward abstinence from evil, but reaching an inner state in which a person’s inclinations change, good becomes beloved to them, and evil becomes unacceptable to them.
Spiritual Message
The Pope explains that true hatred of sin becomes evident when a person rejects evil even during times of temptation and pressure, as we see in the example of Joseph the Righteous, who rejected sin and fled from it. He also refers to the lives of the saints who endured temptations and persecutions without abandoning their purity or faith. He further explains that hating evil includes the love of money, fame, vain glory, and praise, and not only obvious sins. A person whose heart has been freed from this love is no longer captive to its influence, but learns humility, contentment, and commitment to a holy life. He points out that the Holy Spirit works within a person’s heart and renews it, helping the person reject evil from within and not merely through outward appearances.
Educational Lesson
The Pope teaches us that hatred of sin must be genuine and lasting, rather than merely a temporary feeling of regret after falling into it. A person who returns to loving sin after a short time has not yet reached true hatred of it. He emphasizes that sin distances a person from God, grieves the Holy Spirit, and affects their spiritual life. Therefore, a person should recognize the danger of evil and its consequences, avoid justifying mistakes, and never treat temptations carelessly. He also explains that anger, revenge, and the love of honor and praise may become gateways to sin when a person views them as commendable things. Hence, examining the heart and correcting the beliefs that lead a person toward evil or make them accept it are essential.
Practical Application
The Pope calls us to stay away from sin even if our feelings have not completely changed yet, because distancing ourselves from it may be the first step toward hating it. He advises us to choose our friends and surrounding environment carefully, because associating with people who love sin may influence us and lead us to fall. He also encourages us to fill our hearts with the love of God, virtue, and goodness instead of merely resisting sin continuously. He explains that the spiritual life is based on replacing the love of the world with the love of God, and replacing sinful desires with the desire for goodness and holiness. As a person grows in the love of God, Church hymns, and spiritual life, the attraction of things that once distracted them from God weakens. The ultimate goal is for a person to hate evil from the heart, cling to what is good through their will and love, and live in purity and continuous repentance.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
Reflections on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans 12: Hating What Is Evil (Part 15)
Main Idea
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III discusses the commandment of St. Paul the Apostle: “Hate what is evil and cling to what is good” (Romans 12), explaining that there is a difference between abandoning sin and hating it from the heart. Abandoning sin means refraining from practicing it, whereas truly hating it means rejecting it through one’s actions, thoughts, heart, and feelings. A person who hates sin does not accept it, pursue it, or allow it to settle within. The Pope emphasizes that the goal of the spiritual life is not merely outward abstinence from evil, but reaching an inner state in which a person’s inclinations change, good becomes beloved to them, and evil becomes unacceptable to them.
Spiritual Message
The Pope explains that true hatred of sin becomes evident when a person rejects evil even during times of temptation and pressure, as we see in the example of Joseph the Righteous, who rejected sin and fled from it. He also refers to the lives of the saints who endured temptations and persecutions without abandoning their purity or faith. He further explains that hating evil includes the love of money, fame, vain glory, and praise, and not only obvious sins. A person whose heart has been freed from this love is no longer captive to its influence, but learns humility, contentment, and commitment to a holy life. He points out that the Holy Spirit works within a person’s heart and renews it, helping the person reject evil from within and not merely through outward appearances.
Educational Lesson
The Pope teaches us that hatred of sin must be genuine and lasting, rather than merely a temporary feeling of regret after falling into it. A person who returns to loving sin after a short time has not yet reached true hatred of it. He emphasizes that sin distances a person from God, grieves the Holy Spirit, and affects their spiritual life. Therefore, a person should recognize the danger of evil and its consequences, avoid justifying mistakes, and never treat temptations carelessly. He also explains that anger, revenge, and the love of honor and praise may become gateways to sin when a person views them as commendable things. Hence, examining the heart and correcting the beliefs that lead a person toward evil or make them accept it are essential.
Practical Application
The Pope calls us to stay away from sin even if our feelings have not completely changed yet, because distancing ourselves from it may be the first step toward hating it. He advises us to choose our friends and surrounding environment carefully, because associating with people who love sin may influence us and lead us to fall. He also encourages us to fill our hearts with the love of God, virtue, and goodness instead of merely resisting sin continuously. He explains that the spiritual life is based on replacing the love of the world with the love of God, and replacing sinful desires with the desire for goodness and holiness. As a person grows in the love of God, Church hymns, and spiritual life, the attraction of things that once distracted them from God weakens. The ultimate goal is for a person to hate evil from the heart, cling to what is good through their will and love, and live in purity and continuous repentance.
For better translation support, please contact the center.