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It's Not Going to Be Easy (John 15:18-27)

 Any hatred and opposition that we face was first faced by Jesus. We remember that "world" for St. John refers to any and all opponents of God. If we belonged to the sinful world, Jesus says they would love us, and love the apostles. As it is, they have enemies and opponents, and so will we. Later on in the Scriptures, St. Paul will remind us that our struggle is not really against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual powers opposed to God.

When Jesus says that a student is not greater than his master, he is talking about the suffering he faced, and the suffering we will face, but he is also pointing out that every good thing that God could give us as a reward for being faithful belongs to Jesus by right. We will never be greater than him, or outgrow our need for him.

Jesus says that opposition to him is rooted in not really knowing the Father who sent him. We will eventually have a chance to realize that suffering like Christ is a great privilege, and it lets us know that we are on the right path. It will never mean that we find suffering pleasant, or that we do not want a certain kind of comfort and safety. It does mean that when suffering comes, it has a meaning in Jesus.

Sometimes, people get the mistaken idea that every time they suffer, it is confirmation of their faithfulness. I think we should be on guard, if we are tempted to believe that we are doing well. The great mystics of the past believed in some sense that they were the worst person Jesus had ever redeemed. Many of them went through great trials of spiritual darkness, which often made them doubt that they had been saved at all. Jesus won't bring us to any of this until we are ready, but the great test of faith is truly contentment, in the place where God brings us, especially when it is unpleasant.

The Holy Spirit will help the apostles to bear witness to Jesus, and he will give them the right words at the right time. Jesus promises us this in another Gospel.

There is a great mystery, about what it means that the Holy Spirit "proceeds" from the Father. The Creed we have here in the West says of the Holy Spirit, "who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is adored and glorified." The way it is written recognizes the fact that Jesus himself promised to give the Holy Spirit. Other Christians in the East leave out "and the Son" after "from the Father" to recognize the absolute authority of God the Father.

In any case, bearing witness to Jesus is joyful, even when it is costly.

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