"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."
(John 15:19)
In this world, not of it, we reside,
With Christ as our guide, in Him, we confide.
As followers of Him, in His footsteps, we tread,
Not surprised by opposition, but by His love, we're led.
Jesus made it clear, the path won't be easy,
Being His follower, the world won't be breezy.
At odds with the world, for His name, we stand,
Carrying our cross, guided by His hand.
Rejection or persecution, we may face,
But it's not a sign of disgrace.
It could be a result of standing up for Christ,
In the face of adversity, His love sufficed.
Despite the challenges, the trials we navigate,
In our walk with Christ, let us participate.
Faithful and steadfast, let us remain,
For in Christ, we have everything to gain.
Dear Lord Jesus,
We acknowledge that our identification with You gives us the distinction between being in the world and being of the world. As Your followers, we understand that we should not be surprised or discouraged by opposition or misunderstanding from the world.
You have made it clear that being Your follower will not be easy and will often put us at odds with the world. We understand that rejection or persecution does not necessarily mean we are in the wrong; it could be a result of standing up for You.
Despite the challenges and persecutions, we commit to remain faithful and steadfast in our walk with You, even in the face of adversity. We trust in Your guidance and protection, and we pray for the strength to persevere and the wisdom to understand Your will.
In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Pericope:
III: The Book of Glory
THE WORLD'S HATRED
John 15:18-27
Gospel Acclamation
If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Gospel | 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.”
Reflection:
Jesus makes it clear that being His follower will not be easy and will often put us at odds with the world. Rejection or persecution does not necessarily mean we are in the wrong; it could be a result of standing up for Christ.
Our identification with Christ gives the distinction between being in the world and being of the world. As followers of Christ, we should not be surprised or discouraged by opposition or misunderstanding from the world.
Despite the challenges and persecutions, let us remain faithful and steadfast in our walk with Christ, even in the face of adversity.
Background:
John 15:18-21 is a part of the New Testament in the Bible and is a part of Jesus’ discourse with His disciples during the Last Supper.
In these verses, Jesus warns His disciples about the hatred and persecution they will face from the world because of their association with Him23. Here’s a brief overview of these verses:
Verse 18: Jesus warns His disciples that if the world hates them, they should remember that it hated Him first.
Verse 19: He explains that if they belonged to the world, the world would love them as its own. But because they do not belong to the world and He has chosen them out of the world, the world hates them.
Verse 20: Jesus reminds them of His earlier teaching that ‘slaves are not greater than their master.’ If people persecuted Him, they will also persecute His followers. If they obeyed His teaching, they will obey theirs as well.
Verse 21: He tells them that they will face all these things because of His name, for they do not know the One who sent Him2.
These verses highlight the cost of discipleship and the reality of being followers of Christ in a world that rejected Him34. Despite the challenges and persecutions, Jesus encourages His disciples to remain faithful and steadfast.
Learning Lessons:
John 15:18-21 provides several valuable lessons for us:
Expectation of Persecution: Jesus warns His disciples that they will face hatred and persecution because of their association with Him. This teaches us that as followers of Christ, we should not be surprised or discouraged by opposition or misunderstanding from the world.
The Cost of Discipleship: Jesus makes it clear that being His follower will not be easy and will often put us at odds with the world. This underscores the cost of discipleship and the commitment required to follow Christ.
The World’s Rejection: The world’s hatred is not because of the disciples’ failure or sin, but because the world does not know the One who sent Jesus. This reminds us that rejection or persecution does not necessarily mean we are in the wrong; it could be a result of standing up for Christ.
Encouragement in Persecution: Despite the challenges and persecutions, Jesus encourages His disciples to remain faithful and steadfast. This teaches us the importance of perseverance and faithfulness in our walk with Christ, even in the face of adversity.
The Importance of Identification with Christ: Jesus reminds His disciples that if they were of the world, the world would love them, but because they are not of the world, therefore the world hates them. This highlights the importance of our identification with Christ and the distinction between being in the world and being of the world.
These lessons remind us of the reality of being followers of Christ in a world that rejected Him, and encourage us to remain faithful and steadfast in our commitment to Him.
Reflection Source:
Conversation with Copilot
