The gospel for Saturday of the fifth week of Easter is taken from John 15:21. Jesus said to his disciples, if the world hates you, realize it hated me first. If you belong to the world, the world will 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 keep 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. Jesus is using very strong language as he warns the disciples. That they’re following him is going to cost them everything. And it’s beautiful the way he implies that those who serve him will have to endure what Jesus endured.

They will have to go through a transformation of giving everything to the Father. It underscores the commitment that God is asking from his disciples. And he asks it from all of us. In a sense that we deal with suffering in a way that somehow believes that it brings about something good, something valuable to us and our relationship with God and each other. Suffering is not an enemy, but it is essential to help us to become who we’re called to be. Please take a few moments to reflect on these images.

And then I will close with a prayer. Sa Father, give us courage. Give us hope. Give us the ability to endure all that is not yet what we long for it to be. Knowing one day everything will be revealed as it was intended to be. And all of it will be good.

And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.