May 8, Saturday Easter Weekday

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. — Psalm 100:2

Mass Readings: Acts 16:1-10 / John 15:18-21

Hard Choices

The evening before He died, Jesus warned His disciples that following Him would be hard: “If you belonged to the world, the world would 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” (Jn 15:19). 

Since then, countless numbers of His followers have suffered persecution and even death. I used to tell myself that I was willing to die a martyr’s death as a follower of Jesus. But somehow, over the last half-century, the idea of martyrdom has become less and less appealing. Maybe it’s because a few times I experienced physical pain and learned something of the hard reality of childhood fantasies. Or is it because I don’t know to whom I belong?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, guide me to discern the way and then to follow it.