What is the effect of being a disciple of Jesus? Is it popularity, fame, honor, power, or pleasure? No. In fact, I should rephrase the question, what is the consequence from the world for accepting discipleship to Jesus? In today’s gospel reflection, Jesus gives a solid warning that following His gospel of repentance—the acknowledgment that we are sinners—with contrition, the forgiveness of those sins, and obedience to His commandments, we will be met with suffering at the hands of the world.

Jesus said to his disciples:

“the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. 3 They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.”[1]

Pretty haunting stuff here. The hour is coming when our murderers will think by killing us; they are offering worship to God. My friends, this was the reality of the early Christians. It can be verified by the first-hand account of St. Paul, who admits before converting to Christianity that he violently persecuted followers of Jesus Christ.

St. Paul writes to the Galatians:

“For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.”[2]

In the West, there has already been soft totalitarian persecution against traditional Christianity, Christians who will not change the long-standing traditions of over 3000 years of Judeo-Christian culture. In the global south, Christians are actively martyred for their faith.

The Supreme Court may overturn Roe V. Wade today. The Archbishop of San Francisco has barred the Speaker of the House of the United States of America from receiving the Eucharist. The world will be demanding a price, and they will think they are doing the work of justice for exacting the price against those who value the doctrine of the gospel of life.

Are you willing to pay the price?

Pray for your enemies. Love them; desire the good for them. Ask the Holy Spirit, the advocate, to be your helper during such times. And, as always, proclaim the good news that even though we live in a world full of sin, God desires all to be saved and come to the knowledge of Him. Proclaim it. Jesus is Lord. Amen.

[1] New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Jn 16:2–3.

[2] English Standard Version Catholic Edition (n.p.: Augustine Institute, 2019), Ga 1:13.