DAILY HOMILIES #John 15:18-19

The Book of Wisdom says: “Ungodly men reasoned unsoundly: ‘Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions. Let us test him with insult and torture.” (Cf. Wisdom 2:12-21). Evil doers, having made themselves God’s enemies, are constantly at war with God’s children. In Revelation 12:17, we read: “Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.” Righteousness annoys those who have sold their souls to the devil.

Whether we face persecution or not, we cannot escape death and God’s judgment. Malachi reminds us that while evildoers will stumble, those who fear God will rise to eternal life. Our Psalmist declares, “God judges with fairness.” Surely, God cannot be bribed or threatened into delivering false judgment, a phenomenon we are used to in this country.