Thursday of Easter Week
Deacon Robert Banet
I have a problem with Jesus.
Oh? Tell me about it.
He says the world hates Him and the world will hate his followers as it hated Him.
The problem?
Well, if God loved the world enough to send His son into the world to die, how does it figure that the world hates Him?
I see the question. I guess the simple answer is that God loves the world but the world does not love Him back.
What does “world” mean anyway?
It means any group or government or individual person who do not recognize Jesus as Lord.
Like the New York Times? And the media?
Yes. A New York Times columnist said that those who disagree with the government on this knotty sexual matter must be forced to comply.
What?
Yes. Forced.
I guess that means that the New York Times does not recognize Jesus as Lord, right?
Right. That’s what Jesus meant when He said the world would hate His disciples.
It’s not very pleasant to be hated. I’d rather be loved.
Right again. But if we are followers of Jesus we must be expected to be hated by the world, just as the Lord said.
I think the Church is in for some hard times.
You remember what Cardinal George said.
Remind me.
He said that he would probably die in bed, that his successor would be put in jail and that the one who came after him would be executed.
Not a very cheery thought.
We must pray that we stand firm and not deny the Lord when trouble comes.
Amen to that.