Word to the Wise
Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 5th Week of Easter - Sat
[Acts 16:1-10 and John 15:18-21]"If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. 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. 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. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me." [John]
It is a matter of history that the early Christian community came under persecution soon after Jesus' death and resurrection. We have St. Paul, himself, as an example of one of those early persecutors! The Gospel According to John was put into writing in the period roughly 90-110 AD. By then, the community knew well that its beliefs and teachings would cause antagonism. There is definitely an "us v. them" tone to the Gospel According to John. All four gospels speak of Jesus warning the disciples of this, but today's passage from the Last Supper discourses seems aimed at a later audience. The evangelist seems to be addressing a present situation that would continue, and even after the Edict of Milan in the 4th century, which ended official persecution of Christians in the Roman empire, Christians continued to be the subject of persecution.
This is not made easier by the divisions within Christianity which existed before the Protestant Reformation, but became worse after it. How can the ones who supposedly know Jesus as the one whom God has sent then turn on one another in fratricide and discrimination. Yet this has happened and our Catholic Church has been guilty of it. This should make us very careful about any form of religious discrimination. It has a way of becoming lethal. Consistent kind witness to our faith will win more converts than pulling out a sword. AMEN