SATURDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 15:18-21 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

"I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you." (Jn 15:19)

READING OF THE DAY

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 16:1-10

Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra

where there was a disciple named Timothy,

the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer,

but his father was a Greek.

The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him,

and Paul wanted him to come along with him.

On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised,

for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

As they traveled from city to city,

they handed on to the people for observance the decisions

reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem.

Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith

and increased in number.

They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory

because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit

from preaching the message in the province of Asia.

When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia,

but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them,

so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas.

During the night Paul had a vision.

A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words,

"Come over to Macedonia and help us."

When he had seen the vision,

we sought passage to Macedonia at once,

concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John

Jn 15:18-21

Jesus said to his disciples:

"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."

SATURDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER - Jn 15:18-21 -

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In God's Word today, God calls all of His children to look to the example of Jesus Christ who sacrificed, died, and was resurrected to save all humanity.

God lets His children of light know that when He came to earth to become a human being to save, and to show His love for humanity, He was being condemned, hated, and eliminated by the world. He did not do anything bad, so why was He being condemned, eliminated, and killed? It is due to the jealousy and hatred of Satan and the world. They do not want God to love humanity, they do not want humans to have eternal life with God the Father.

Therefore, they find every way to eliminate and kill; but God's love always overcomes death, envy, jealousy, and hatred of Satan and the world. This is God's instruction to mankind.

- When following the light of God the Father, everyone will also suffer, be condemned, and be excluded by the world. This is what God teaches mankind to know in advance so that when they encounter difficulties and challenges, they should have absolute trust and loyalty to God the Father.

- Look up to the example of Jesus Christ, God's only Son who died hanging on the cross, so that everyone can courageously follow the path of light and truth to reach God the Father.

-God the Father is the only Teacher; all those who listen and practice His teachings will overcome temptation and Satan's attacks.

- Use love to conquer hatred, and use love to destroy death. If we live in this way, we can conquer the world and defeat death.

In this new era, God the Father also calls His children to walk in God the Father's plan.

- Be courageous and steadfast in this plan, be faithful and obedient, and follow His holy will. In this way, God the Father will save us and give us eternal life, and from there Satan will have to retreat.

- Listen to God the Father's instructions and put them into practice. Don't just listen and ignore them. Because God's word always has the power to help humanity escape difficulties, challenges, and persecution that the world is trying to eliminate and condemn.

Thanks be to God. Amen.