In today's Gospel Jesus speaks loud and clear to us. He is asking disciples to love all those around them as a sign of their love for him. He also warns them that there is no guarantee that they will be loved in return. If they hated such a loving person as Jesus so bitterly, his disciples cannot expect to be treated differently. The reason they will be hated is that they will refuse to identify themselves with the values and priorities of the secular world.

The disciples are included in the world's hatred of Jesus because, like him, they are not of this world. They are Jesus' friends and thus they are not loved by the world. Jesus calls on us today to reject materialistic greed and competiveness, the scramble for status and power, the hatred, anger, violence and revenge which mark so many lives. We should all be ready to accept humiliation for Christ. Jesus was ridiculed, ignored, humiliated, and persecuted for the message he brought to the world. If it happened to our Lord, it will surely happen to us, his followers. Therefore, we should be strong in faith and ready to face challenges for Christ.