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If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you – John 15:20

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Dear brothers and sisters. Life gives many choices to human beings, and every decision made carries risks. One of the choices in life is to become a follower of Jesus Christ. The decision to become a Christian is challenging because we must be ready to bear the risks. However, God never leaves us to struggle alone, but sends His Holy Spirit so that we can endure and persevere in every risk we face.

Baptism makes us followers of Jesus Christ and members of the church. In baptism, we acknowledge the Triune God:  God the Father who created heaven and earth, Jesus Christ, the Son of God whom the Father sent into the world, and the Holy Spirit whom the Father sent to comfort and strengthen. In addition, we recognize the one holy and apostolic church and participate in God's mission in the world.

From the beginning of His mission in the world, Jesus proclaimed the values of the Kingdom of God relating to truth, justice, mercy, and forgiveness. Therefore, He performed miracles to show people the Kingdom of God and the Fatherhood of God for the betterment of the world. However, the values of the Kingdom of God were at odds with the values offered by this world. Jesus encountered opposition. He was hated and he had to take the most significant risk of his life: suffering and dying on the cross. That is God's way of opening the eyes of every unbeliever so that God's glory becomes evident in the world.

Jesus has taught and exemplified an attitude of living; a valuable and meaningful life for us. A follower of Christ will also suffer and be persecuted for the faith and truth that is proclaimed, both through words and actions. We must be prepared to be hated. However, this does not mean that we become afraid and withdraw from social life. On the contrary, we are called to increasingly show our identity by participating with all people of goodwill for a better world.

We are called to endure and persevere in faith because God Himself sends the Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen us in our witness of faith. Our strength comes from the Holy Spirit, who enables us to be witnesses of the truth in the world.

 

Reflection on John 15: 18-26 by Fr. Aris Mada, SVD

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