Jesus tells us in the Gospel, that we do not belong to the world, that His choice withdrew (us) from the world. This separation from the world is demonstrated by the way in which Paul makes decisions in the first reading. We see that he listens attentively to what the Spirit of Jesus tells him, and so holds back from preaching in Asia and Bithynia. But once he is convinced that he is to go to Macedonia, he sets off at once. This total devotion and obedience to the voice of God is clearly contrary to the way in which the world makes decisions.

On the other hand, the readings also show us that Christians have to be engaged in the world. This engagement is clearly shown in the description of Paul's missionary travels in the first reading. It is in living this tension between separation and engagement, that Christians can expect hatred and persecution from the world. For either total separation from or complete conformity to the world would not result in persecution. To live the tension is to be true to the call and choice of the Master, who was persecuted before us. As we come to the end of this fifth week of Easter, perhaps we might examine our own relationship with the world. How do we live this tension between separation and engagement in our individual and communal lives?