This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
The Master’s Path, The Disciple’s Journey
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
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.”
Grace Prayed For
The grace to persevere with joyful courage in witnessing to Christ, even in the face of misunderstanding or opposition, rooted in the power of His resurrection and the knowledge of His prior path.
Reflection
In these words of Jesus, spoken with such tender foresight, we find not a message of despair, but a profound invitation to understand the depth of our union with Him. He doesn’t sugarcoat the reality: to be chosen by Him, to be set apart from the “world,” means we will encounter its misunderstanding, even its animosity. But isn’t this the very path He walked? The sting of rejection, the pain of persecution – He knew it first. And in His knowing, He paved the way not to avoid it, but to transform it.
The power of the Resurrection is the lens through which we must read this passage. The tomb is empty! Death and hatred did not have the final say over Jesus, and because we are His, they do not have the final say over us. When we step out to “make disciples,” we carry this victorious power within us. The “world’s” opposition, then, is not a sign of our failure, but a confirmation of our belonging to the One who has already overcome the world. Our task is not to win the world’s approval, but to radiate the love and truth of the Risen Christ, a love that chose us out of the world to be beacons for the world. This passage calls us to an intimate reliance on His strength, knowing that if they persecuted the Master, they will persecute the servant. Yet, it is in this shared experience, this walking in His footsteps, that our discipleship becomes most authentic and our witness most powerful. The Resurrection ensures that this path, though sometimes marked by the world’s chill, leads ultimately to life and glory with Him.
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
This passage draws us into greater intimacy with Jesus by inviting us to share in His experience with the world. When we face challenges because of our faith, we are not alone; we are walking a path He has already sanctified. Recognizing that He endured hatred first creates a profound bond of solidarity. It moves us from simply admiring His sacrifice to participating, in a small way, in His mission and its costs. This shared journey, this understanding that our struggles for the Gospel are linked to His own, fosters a deeper reliance on Him, a more fervent prayer life, and a more profound appreciation for the victory He won for us through His resurrection. We come to know Him not just as Savior, but as a companion who truly understands and empowers us.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post