Pearls of the Word

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If anyone does hate his own life

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate ... his own life [psuche] also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26).

The Greek word psuche means 'soul', 'breath', 'life'; the soul is the seat of the will, the emotions and the intellect (understanding). The problem of our soul is that it relies on its own emotions to understand and not on divine revelations.

Jesus came not to touch our emotions, but to awaken our spirits by the Truth. Our soul will always put its limits to the truth, which is why Jesus said to the crowd following Him, "If you come to Me without giving Me the first place in your life – to the detriment of your own soul –, you cannot be My disciple".