You Will be Hated...

Not words that bring excitement when one hears them. Christ is clear as mountain air here, no parables, no hiding the message, just plain and simple: If you follow me, you will be hated. No one likes hearing that message, more less living it out, but it's the cost of following Christ. If you want to follow me, says Christ, you will be hated by all men.

John Chrysostom works out what this means for us: The courts of justice will go against you. Kings will assail you, as will governors, the synagogues of the Jews and the magistrates of the Gentiles. Both rulers and ruled will combat you. He was preparing them not only for what was to befall them in Palestine but also throughout the world. For they were soon to be sent to the Gentiles with this same proclamation. In doing so they would find that the whole world opposes them. In this spiritual warfare all that dwell upon the earth, all peoples, tyrants and kings, will be arrayed against them. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY