Following Christ with Courage in a Resistant World
Following Christ with Courage in a Resistant World Readings First Reading - Acts of the Apostles 16:1-10, Responsorial Psalm- Psalm 100:1-5, Alleluia - Colossians 3:1, Gospel Reading - John 15:18-21 The readings from Acts 16:1–10; Psalm 100; Colossians 3:1; and John 15:18–21 remind us that following Christ is a journey of mission, courage, and faithfulness—even when the world does not understand or accept us. In the Gospel of Gospel of John (15:18–21), Jesus prepares His disciples for a difficult reality: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.” These words may seem hard, but they are deeply honest. To follow Christ means to live by values that often challenge the world—truth instead of compromise, love instead of selfishness, humility instead of pride. Jesus reminds His disciples that they do not belong to the world because He has chosen them out of it. Their identity is rooted in Him, not in public approval. This is a call to perseveranc...