Commentary on the Gospel of
Do not conform to the world
"If the world hates you, realise that it hated me first" (v. 18). In his prayer for the disciples at the Last Supper, he asks the Father not to take them out of the world but to defend them from the spirit of the world (John 17: 15) or "worldliness." What is this worldliness capable of hating and destroying Jesus and his disciples and of corrupting the Church?
Worldliness is a culture of momentary happiness based on appearance, makeup, and inconsistency. Its values are shallow and superficial. It is a culture that knows no fidelity because it changes according to circumstances; everything is negotiable. This is the culture of worldliness. Jesus insists on defending us from this and prays that the Father will defend us from this culture of worldliness, which is a throw-away culture focused on convenience. It's a way of life for many who say they are Christians but are still worldly without roots or fidelity.
As we know, Christ's message is not always comfortable; it always speaks of the cross. Let us not run away from the cross, but remain lambs forever because then we will have a shepherd to defend us.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit in these days of the Easter season for the grace to discern what is worldliness and what is the Gospel and not be deceived. The world hated Jesus, and now it hates us, and Jesus prayed that the Father would defend us from the spirit of the world.
