The World’s Hatred

Today's Reflections 

      

The World’s Hatred

Jn 15:18-21

[Jesus said to his disciples,] ¹⁸“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. ¹⁹If 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. ²⁰Remember 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. ²¹And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.”

Realize that it hated me first. Jesus prepares the disciples for their eventual and harrowing share of trials, difficulties, and sufferings for drinking “the cup” (cf Mk 10:39). He will go through all these during his public ministry and especially with his passion and death. His disciples will not be spared from these; they, too, will be persecuted, derided, cursed, and crucified.

Jesus expects the disciples to be faithful and fruitful; after all, it is God’s mission, not theirs. “We will be instruments of God’s love only to the extent that we are in communion with God, and so to the extent that we pray,” writes Michael Fallon, MSC. “Because the disciples share in the light of Christ, those in darkness, the unredeemed humanity still living in darkness, wickedness, and unbelief also hate them for it.” The world will seek to extinguish that light in them.

Preaching at a recollection, a bishop told priests that what happened to Christ must also happen to us. This is what it takes for one to love.

“Eighty-six years I have served Him,

and He has done me no wrong.

How can I blaspheme my king who has saved me?”

(St. Polycarp, when asked to revile Christ).