Facing the hatred of the world

by FLL Editorial Team
2013-05-04

John 15:18-21

In today's Gospel, as the disciples were about to suffer persecution and reproach, Jesus bids them not to grieve, but rejoice on that account: "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you": as if to say, "I know it is a hard trial, but you will endure it for My sake."

Why should the members exalt themselves above the head? You refuse to be in the body, if you are not willing to endure the hatred of the world with the head. For love's sake let us be patient; the world must hate us, whom it sees hate whatever it loves. If you were of the world, the world would love his own.

As if Christ's suffering were not consolation enough, Jesus consoles them still further by telling them, the hatred of the world would be an evidence of their goodness; so that they ought rather to grieve if they were loved by the world, as that would be evidence of their wickedness. For the dispraise of the perverse, is our praise. There is nothing wrong in not pleasing those who do not please God. For no one can both please God, and the enemies of God. He proves himself no friend to God, who pleases God's enemy; and he whose soul is subject to the Truth, will have to contend with the enemies of that Truth.

References:
St. John Chrysostom (Homily 77 on the Gospel of St. John)
St. Augustine (Tractates on the Gospel of St. John, Tractate #87)
St. Gregory the Great Homily on Ezekiel. 9

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