IN IT BUT NOT OF IT

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter Year C John 15:18-21 “You do not belong to the world” The “world” in today’s gospel does not mean the physical corporeal world but the world of people who have mistakenly made like the world of pleasure, money, fame, success, reputation, power, and authority as their God. This world is beautiful but never allow yourself to be consumed by it, “for what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and looses his own soul.” Today’s gospel is reminding us that our belongingness cannot be found in this world. We are in the world but not of the world. In it but not of it. We are called to be world changers not the world chasers. Three years I remember when I went to St. Peter Basilica in Rome I happened to visit one of the parish nearby. (I can easily spot the difference.) There are plenty of tourists around filming and taking photos but few people attending the Eucharist inside the church. What’s my point? Friends, we cannot improve the world if we conform ourselves to this world. Not everyone will accept Jesus! Therefore, as what I mentioned earlier, let us be world’s changers not its chasers. Live to be approved by God not to be applauded by the world. Let us spend most of our time and energy on what is above rather than on what is below! Blessings Fr. Jhack