5/13/2023 (Saturday) Today’s gospel reading: John 15:18-21
18 Jesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
19 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.
20 Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
21 And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.”
5/13/2023 (Saturday) Today’s gospel reflection: John 15:18-21
In John 17:3, Jesus defined eternal life as knowing God and His Son whom He has sent. The reason why there is so much hatred and persecution in the world is the people’s lack of knowledge of God or their refusal to know God and His Son which is The Truth. By rejecting this truth, many people continue to live in darkness.
Jesus is reminding His apostles to be prepared to be hated, rejected and persecuted on account of their faith. Because He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6), anyone who truly follows Him must accept the fact that a lot of people are turned off with the radical way of Christian life and the proclamation of freedom to all people. The earlier we realize that change is difficult for many people, the better to be more persistent in living the gospel and to be more courageous and crafty in dealing with our persecutors.
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide us as we walk in the path of transformation rather than conformation with this world. May we never tire of proclaiming the Truth in spite of rejection and persecution.