The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today implore us to work in the world, where God is rejected, with the strength of Love, Faith, and Hope.
In the Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Paul in Lycaonia invites Timothy to Europe with him.
* [16:3] Paul had him circumcised: he did this in order that Timothy might be able to associate with the Jews and so perform a ministry among them. Paul did not object to the Jewish Christians’ adherence to the law. But he insisted that the law could not be imposed on the Gentiles. Paul himself lived in accordance with the law, or as exempt from the law, according to particular circumstances (see 1 Cor 9:19–23).
* [16:7] The Spirit of Jesus: this is an unusual formulation in Luke’s writings. The parallelism with Acts 16:6 indicates its meaning, the holy Spirit. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 100 is a hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts.
* [Psalm 100] A hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts with thank offerings for the God who created them.
* [100:3] Although the people call on all the nations of the world to join in their hymn, they are conscious of being the chosen people of God. (Psalms, CHAPTER 100| USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John, prepares the disciples for the “World’s” Hatred.
* [15:18–16:4] The hostile reaction of the world. There are synoptic parallels, predicting persecution, especially at Mt 10:17–25; 24:9–10.
* [15:20] The word I spoke to you: a reference to Jn 13:16.
* [15:21] On account of my name: the idea of persecution for Jesus’ name is frequent in the New Testament (Mt 10:22; 24:9; Acts 9:14). For John, association with Jesus’ name implies union with Jesus. (John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
Vivian Amu comments that in today’s Gospel, John 15:18-21, Jesus reveals another layer of the challenge of discipleship. He said that those who walk in His ways and live by His teachings naturally stand out—they love differently, act differently, and prioritize differently. With that difference comes rejection, being misunderstood, or even disliked.
When doors close, God opens new ones. When others push us away, God stays with us, reminding us of who and whose we are. Jesus did not sugarcoat anything—living out our faith authentically may not always bring applause or a loving and positive response, but it is always worth it.
Can we place our trust in God’s way, even when it feels inconvenient or uncomfortable, believing God has designed our path for a greater good and our best interest in mind? How might it look to boldly bring God’s love into places and among people who may not accept it? What would it be like to find genuine peace, simply knowing we are following in Christ’s footsteps? How would it feel to live and speak as Christ did, without letting the fear of rejection hold us back?
Merciful God, help us lean on your strength and trust in your love for us when the way feels difficult.
Amen. (Amu, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Those who suffer with Christ reign with Christ,” by Cyril of Alexandria, 375-444 A.D.
"It is just as if Jesus said, 'I, the creator of the universe, who have everything under my hand, both in heaven and on earth, did not bridle their rage or restrain ... their inclinations. Rather, I let each one choose their own course and permitted all to do what they wanted. Therefore, when I was persecuted, I endured it even though I had the power of preventing it. When you too follow in my wake and pursue the same course I did, you also will be persecuted. You're going to have to momentarily endure the aversion of those who hate you without being overly troubled by the ingratitude of those whom you benefit. This is how you attain my glory, for those who suffer with me shall also reign with me.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 15:18-21 comments that by choosing us “out of the world,” Jesus has given us real hope—the hope of a life spent in a living relationship with him and of eternal life in heaven. At his resurrection, he broke down the barrier between heaven and earth so that life in this world could be infused with the grace of his kingdom.
So if you feel yourself getting tired or discouraged, remember that you don’t belong to this fallen world. Ask the Spirit to raise your heart to the promise of heaven. Let that promise fill you with hope again. You are a fellow citizen with all the saints!
“Lord, thank you for filling me with the hope of heaven!” (Meditation on John 15:18-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Acts we hear a disciple Timothy who begins to follow Paul is circumcised because his mom is Jewish and descent from a Jewish woman is his identity marker for his heritage. Paul’s plan to go to the coast of Turkey is prohibited by the Spirit as he is not to go to a community where the Good News is already preached. He is invited in a dream by the Spirit to Macedonia. The Gospel of John raises the question of how we are invited into the Life of the Father? The “world” that rejects the Love of God, lives in concupiscence. We try to live a life of love, and often, we are hated for our efforts. Friar Jude reminds us we will pay a price accused of being naive, experiencing rejection, having a sense of being better. We too have to be willing to suffer and die for Him as He does for us.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces James Finley who describes how the dance of union and separation experienced by lovers can be a reflection of how we experience our relationship with God. There isn’t a distinction that says, “Over here is oneness, and over there is twoness.” It’s the alchemy of the endless interplay of the oneness of the two who are one.
I think love’s nature is like that.
It doesn’t really matter if we’re married, single, or celibate. We can all experience this. My sense is that God says to us, “It may be true that the thread of your constancy, your ability to be aware of my oneness with you, often breaks. But know that no matter how often it breaks from your end, it never breaks from my end. Furthermore, when it breaks from your end and you can’t find me, I’m infinitely present as love in your inability to find me. Your inability to find me is me, because the fact that you long for me, even though you can’t find me, bears witness to your longing for me. Therefore, every time the thread breaks from your end, know that it will reawaken your desire to lean into and renew the thread that never breaks from mine.” The rhythms of oneness and separation are reflected in death, married love, or people in love. The love and the oneness permeate both endlessly and unexplainably. I think that’s love’s rhythm. (Rohr, n.d.)
We invite the Holy Spirit to accompany our mission to live out our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader as our source of Wisdom and consolation when we need a Plan B after setbacks and rejections.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/16?1
Amu, V. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-9-2026
John, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?
Meditation on John 15:18-21. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/09/1560874/
Psalms, CHAPTER 100| USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/100?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Lover and Beloved in the Song of Songs: Weekly Summary. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/lover-and-beloved-in-the-song-of-songs-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Are Not of the World. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 9, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
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