Day 20

Scripture

“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world--therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.”

John 15:18-27 (NRSV)

Prayer

SOUL of Christ, make me holy.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, refresh me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Suffering of Christ, make me strong.
O good Jesus, hear me.
In your wounds hide me,
Let me not be separated from you,
From the enemy who hates me defend me,
In the hour of my death, call me,
And tell me to come to you
That with your saints I may praise you
For ever and ever. Amen.


A Preparation for Holy Communion, The English Prayer Book
(1985, Melanesia)

Reflection

“But the persecution which attends all the children of God is that our Lord describes in the following words: ‘Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you (shall persecute by reviling you), and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.’ This cannot fail: it is the very badge of our discipleship; it is one of the seals of our calling. It is a sure portion entailed on all the children of God; if we have it not we are bastards and not sons.”

Rev. John Wesley (1703-1791)