Gospel Reading : John 15:18-21
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.
What do the Fathers say?
St John CHRYSOSTOM. I have said that I lay down My life for you, and that I first chose you. I have said this not by way of reproach, but to induce you to love one another.
Then as they were about to suffer persecution and reproach, He 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.
As if Christ’s suffering were not consolation enough, He 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.
As if He said, You must not be disturbed at having to share My sufferings; for you are not better than I.
Then follows another consolation, namely. that the Father is despised and injured with them: But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.
St AUGUSTINE. For why should the members exalt themselves above the head? You refuse to be in the body, if you are not willing, with the head, to endure the hatred of the world.
For love’s sake let us be patient: the world must hate us. If you were of the world, the world would love its own.
Sources:
Bible readings from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Second Catholic Edition, copyright © 2006 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Quotes of the Fathers from :
Thomas Aquinas’ Catena Aurea Translated by St John Henry Newman
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