May 5, 2018

Gospel: Jn 15:18-21
If the world hates you, remember that the world hated me before you. This would not be so if you belonged to the world, because the world loves its own. But you are not of the world, since I have chosen you from the world; because of this the world hates you. Remember what I told you: the servant is not greater than his master; if they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours as well. All this they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know the One who sent me.

Reflections
I have chosen you from the world Jesus speaks of the “world” as a metaphor for sin that opposes him and his message. Just as Jesus was persecuted, so will his faithful disciples be. Clearly, suffering is not willed by the Father, but is the consequence of witnessing to the Gospel values. At times we ask why the Lord allows us to suffer. We comfort ourselves by saying, “God is only testing us,” or “God won’t allow us to suffer beyond our capacity.” These attitudes are problematic because they attribute the cause of our suffering to God and not to sin in the world or within us.

© Copyrights Bible Diary 2018