The Word of God
Jesus said to his disciples, "If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'Servants are not greater than their master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
John 15:18-21
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Jesus has been urging his disciples to love all those around them as a sign of their love of him. Today he warns them that there is no guarantee that they will be loved in return. If people hated such a loving person as Jesus so bitterly, his disciples cannot expect to be treated differently.
- And the reason they will be hated is because they will refuse to identify themselves with the values and priorities of the secular world. They will reject materialistic greed and competitiveness, the scramble for status and power, the hatred, anger, violence and revenge which mark so many people’s lives.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Jesus is very clear. Following him means also sharing his lot, being rejected and even hated by ‘the world’ because our values are different. This does not make the suffering of feeling different and not accepted any easier. But it helps us make sense of it, doing our best to remain loyal to our calling to be followers of Jesus.
- Servants are not greater than their master. I reflect on these words as I dwell on the complexities of my life and its challenges in today’s world.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Being a follower of Jesus sometimes means making unpopular choices. Am I prepared to stand up and be counted as a Christian? Perhaps there is something I need to do or say now as a Christian, but am afraid to do? I ask Jesus for courage.
- I remind myself that it is only human to shrink from taking a stance that others may not like. Maybe I have failed to do so in the past. I talk honestly to Jesus about this, knowing that he loves me no matter how I have behaved, just as he continued to love his friend Peter after Peter denied him.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Jesus warns us that the world is going to hate us, and it does! Think of how he responded. “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they are doing.”
- Jesus has withdrawn us from the world, from worldly ways of thinking, from greed and selfishness and self-importance. Do I need to examine myself here?
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Jesus grieves that the world does not know his Father who sent him to bring the good news of his endless love for us all. But whenever we pray our awareness of this love grows imperceptibly deeper. You can notice this only by reflection over a period of time. When you do notice that you have grown at least a little in love, thank God for it.
- ‘My choice withdrew you from the world’. I am the choice of God! Surely this touches my heart with wonder and gratitude. A love-poem of which I recall only a single line runs: ‘I have singled you out from all the world.’ The poet is speaking to her partner who is slipping away from her due to a debilitating illness. What must that line have meant to him! Let Jesus’ words give me comfort in my times of trial and doubt.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Not everyone accepts Jesus, which was his experience from the start. Opposition to him took him to death, and love took him from death to resurrection. Persecution and similar opposition is the experience of many of his followers. Goodness sometimes offends people; evil can seem for a while to be stronger than love, but the message of Jesus is that love conquers all.
- I bring any aspect of my life in which I feel rejected or unappreciated before the Lord, considering whether my treatment was because of my being a disciple. I stand beside Jesus who knows how I feel.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- “The world” in today’s reading doesn’t mean the physical world but the world of people who have mistakenly made money, success, reputation, power, and control their God. They place their worth solely in how much they own, who they know, and in their capacity to exploit others and the earth to their own exclusive benefit. They are ready to use force to gain their ends. Jesus warns us that they hated Him and his message of putting God and His kingdom first and all these things fall into place.
- Could we be true Christians if we don’t challenge and encounter violence from those who exploit everything and everyone for their own benefit alone? The good news isn’t good news initially for them, and yet God embraces them in God’s desire to save all men and women.
- “Repent, and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15).
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Lord, could I bear to be ‘hated’? Perhaps, but only if I keep in mind that then I am not alone; you are with me.
- Witnessing to love means standing for justice, and the unjust will not like it. Standing for truth will infuriate those who live by lies. I won’t look for trouble, but if it comes, let me not run away. Your kingdom is a kingdom of justice and truth. At the end of my life I will be glad to have contributed what I could to its growth, and those I stood by will intercede for me.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Forgive me, Lord; there are times when I slip into voguish nonsense, trying to keep up with the prejudices and fripperies of fashion, or echoing the cynicism and materialism around me. When the worldly love me, I need to look hard at myself, and remember that you, the most lovable of men, suffered hatred and execution. When people are giving me a hard time, it may well be that I am blessed.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- ‘Hate’ may seem to be a strong word, to be overstating it a little. If everyone in my world is comfortable with me, could it be that my light has dimmed a little, that my salt has become less tangy? I pray that I may know when any resistance I cause in others is from my being a disciple and when it is purely my own.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Jesus gives us advance warning of tough times. Which of us wants to be hated? Instead we want to be affirmed for what we are and for the choices we make. But he tells us that the experience of rejection is an opportunity for us to live his Passion in our own lives. In facing this, companionship with the suffering Christ strengthens us.
- None of us can serve two masters. We are called to live an integrated life where our daily choices give expression to our discipleship and love of Jesus. We do not seek out suffering, but neither do we run from it when it is forced on us.
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- Jesus wants a world in which love, friendship and inclusion prevail. But we find ourselves in a world of domination, corruption, revenge and exclusion. To have the courage to make right choices we must be firmly grounded in the friendship and support of Jesus.
- None of us likes to be hated, but we are told not to expect an easy life in following Jesus. He doesn’t promise that we will be successful when we stand for the truth, but we are to be available, faithful and loving. The struggle to witness to the Gospel will deepen the companionship between Jesus and ourselves. ‘We are in this together.’
Some thoughts on today's scripture
ActiveDefault- This talk about hatred is distasteful stuff, Lord, politically incorrect. But I have to admit that it rings true. It happens that good Christians are slandered and hated, for whatever reason. Then I need to remember how you were hated and kept your peace, and did not let your heart flame up in resentment.
- Jesus wants our faith and our presence with him. The coming of the Trinity among us arises from the desire of God to invite us into belonging with them, and to know the mystery of God from the inside. We can say ‘yes' or ‘no' to that invitation. Our time of prayer is one way of saying ‘yes', and of opening ourselves to the divine energy in the world and inside each of us.
- Not everyone accepts Jesus, which was his experience from the start. Opposition to him took him to death, and love took him from death to resurrection. Persecution and similar opposition is the experience of many of his followers. Goodness sometimes offends people; evil can seem for a while to be stronger than love, but the message of Jesus is that love conquers all.
- I bring any aspect of my life in which I feel rejected or unappreciated before the Lord, considering whether myt treatment was because of my being a disciple. I stand beside Jesus who knows how I feel.
- Having the last word and winning the argument do not appear to be temptations. I listen to Jesus and consider his words. I realise that he accepted that not everyone would follow in his way. I pray for the humility that I need.
- Jesus recognised that not all of his words were kept; he did not try to indoctrinate, coerce or to force his word. I ask God to strengthen my faith, that I may do what I can and accept that it may be the choice of others whether to heed or not.
- There is a way of being - 'the world' - that is not the way of God. I consider where I need to resist being attracted by this other way.