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Chosen Out of the World
Jesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that
it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would
love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I
have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.” John
15:18–19
No one wants to be hated. Yet our Lord makes it very clear that
because He has “chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.”
He doesn’t say that the world “might” hate you or that you “might”
suffer some injustice. He declares that those whom He has chosen
out of the world will be hated by the world. This is one of the
paradoxes of our faith: Living in Christ brings love from Him but
hatred and persecution from the world. Yet this hatred is a sign of
a deeper reality: We are no longer bound by the fleeting values of
this fallen world but are participants in God’s eternal Kingdom,
where peace and true freedom are found.
The “world” in this context is not Creation itself. All that God
created is good. The world represents the fallen spiritual order,
caught up in sin. Those who “belong to the world” are those who
conform to diabolical values, such as seeking power for power’s
sake, wealth as a selfish means to fulfillment, or carnal
indulgence in an attempt to satiate oneself. Living in accord with
the values of the fallen world is foolishness. It leads to a
superficial life that cannot ultimately satisfy our deeper
spiritual cravings and shares in the envy and hatred of the
demons.
Breaking free of worldly attachments is difficult at first because
those who have become worldly are blinded by their disordered
desires. Sin is a slippery slope. Compromising even in small ways
to gain acceptance risks losing clarity of purpose and rootedness
in Christ. The more people sin, the more miserable they become, and
the more miserable they become, the more they seek satisfaction
from sin. Only when that cycle is broken does peace begin to take
hold and freedom is found. Yet, in the midst of this struggle to
detach from worldly illusions, Jesus offers a profound truth: “I
have chosen you out of the world.”
To be chosen by Christ is to be set apart for a life of divine
purpose and eternal fulfillment. This call draws us into communion
with Him, transforming suffering into a path to glory. The
disciples’ identity is not self-made but rooted in His choice. This
divine election sets them apart for a mission that challenges the
temptation to worldly ambitions. Their call to holiness and truth
inevitably provokes hostility because it shines a light on the
darkness of the world’s sin and draws others to conversion. Yet
with this call also comes the promise of eternal joy.
This raises an important question for each of us: Does the world
love or hate you? Do you fit in or stand in opposition to worldly
values? If we try to gain the world’s love, from those who have
embraced worldly ambitions and values, then we will find ourselves
compromising to gain acceptance. But if we remain steadfast, even
when persecuted, we share in Jesus’ victory and the promise of
eternal life.
Jesus tells us this sober truth as a way of preparing us for the
inevitable: “Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater
than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute
you” (John 15:20). We must remember His word, His warning, so that
if we experience persecution, hatred, or any form of judgment or
criticism, we will not become discouraged or fearful. Understanding
the consequences of living contrary to worldly values will prepare
us for the rejection that our Lord Himself experienced.
Reflect today on being chosen by God and the consequences of being
called out of the world. Consider any ways that living your faith
openly results in criticism or persecution. As you do, recall that
you are called to be like Jesus, including being given a share in
His sufferings, but also a share in His glory. As Saint Paul
reminds us, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time
are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us”
(Romans 8:18). Do not give in to fear. Remain courageous and
confident that along with Jesus’ call comes the grace to respond to
and endure whatever comes your way, knowing that the joy of the
Resurrection awaits.
Victorious Lord, You have conquered the world, sin, and death,
and You have called me out of this fallen world into the light of
Your grace. Strengthen me with courage and steadfastness when I
face persecution for my faith. Help me to trust in Your victory, to
endure with hope, and to find joy in the promise of sharing Your
eternal glory. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Advent 1 by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
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