Gospel: May 4, 2024
(Saturday)
5th Week of Easter
Psalter: Week 1 / (White)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 100: 1b-2, 3, 5
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
1st Reading: Acts 16: 1-10
Gospel: John 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.
Reflection:“Jesus spoke the truth.”
In John’s Gospel, the Greek word kosmos, which can be translated into English as “world,” has several meanings. First, it may refer to the natural world inhabited by human beings. Second, it may refer to the whole humanity. Third, it may refer to a portion of humanity that rejected Jesus whom God has sent. But why would a portion of humanity reject the one God has sent? It is because deeds of such portion were evil. Jesus’ coming into the world also revealed the darkness overtaking this portion of humanity. This part of humanity and their wicked deeds were exposed. Consequently, they hated Jesus. This is the “world” that hated Jesus. This is the same “world” which would also hate Jesus’ disciples. As Jesus’ disciples, we are called to make God known in our world. In the process of making God known, whatever evil there is in the world today is also being exposed. This is the reason why truth-tellers are harmed if not killed. People of lies hate those who speak the truth. Jesus spoke the truth. He was hated, and eventually killed. But no matter what, to speak the truth, even to those in power, is part of our sacred Christian duty.
