5th week in Easter Time, Saturday – 21st May 2022 — Gospel: Jn 15,18-21
Blessed are the Persecuted
The disciples must realize that following and obeying Jesus, as servants obey their masters, will lead to persecution. Because what has happened with Jesus will be repeated in the disciples’ lives. If the disciples want the world to love them, they must give up the teachings of Jesus. Those who do not accept the word of truth, spoken by Jesus, will indulge in persecution. Those who accept the word will respond by living out that word in their lives. Rejection of the disciples means rejection of Jesus because it is Jesus who sends them. We can remember that Jesus said being persecuted is a blessing: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Mt 5,10-12). When we experience the hatred of the world, we can remember that we are in the good company of Jesus, the prophets before him, and his saints after him.
