The Nexus between Divine Love and Human Relations

15. If we detect any trace of hatred in our hearts against any man whatsoever for committing any fault, we are utterly estranged from love for God, since love for God absolutely precludes us from hating any man.

St. Maximus the Confessor Four Hundred Centuries on Love: #15

St. Maximus’ message resonates with profound simplicity: to truly love God, one must embody love in all facets of life, including our relations with fellow humans. Hatred, in any form or measure, stands as a contradiction to the love of God.

Every person, with their virtues and flaws, is an embodiment of God's creation. Hating any individual, irrespective of their actions, is inadvertently rejecting a part of that divine creation. But how does one navigate this challenging terrain, especially when confronted with wrongdoing?

It is crucial to differentiate between condemning an act and harboring hatred towards an individual. While we might denounce an action as immoral or harmful, it doesn't warrant cultivating a feeling of hatred towards the person committing it. Understanding this distinction is essential in nurturing a heart that's in harmony with divine love.

On a personal level, this saying challenges our emotional maturity and spiritual depth. How many times have we let an individual's actions overshadow their humanity in our perceptions? How often have we allowed our hearts to be tainted by resentment, thus distancing ourselves from the pure love of God?

Embracing this wisdom involves a conscious effort to cleanse our hearts from animosity, to seek understanding over judgment, and to respond with compassion even when faced with hostility. For in the grand scheme of spiritual evolution, every act of love and forgiveness brings us closer to the Divine, while every trace of hatred pushes us further away. This very work reminds us how we are capable of participating in the divine vision he had in chapter 5: “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”(Amos 5:24)