First Reading: (Acts 16:1-10)
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul Reflection: Jesus says: If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. Thus, while Jesus commands his followers to love their brethren, after the example of Jesus himself, he also cautions them against the tendency to expect to be loved by them in return. Jesus points to his own life, as if to prove the point. Though Jesus loved everyone and gave them an experience of his goodness and mercy, many hated him precisely because he did not fit in to their own expectation about him. Some rejected him since he was totally different from them in his lifestyle,while some others condemned him for his very teachings which were founded on the principle of love. However, Jesus also draws our attention to another aspect of the love of the world- the world loves the worldly, those who live in accordance with world’s principles and values. Therefore, it is better to be hated by the world temporarily than to lose God’s immeasurable and eternal love. in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing beseeching him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Ps 99:1-3, 5 R./ Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Gospel: (Jn 15:18-21)
Jesus said to his disciples, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.”
Jesus says: If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. Thus, while Jesus commands his followers to love their brethren, after the example of Jesus himself, he also cautions them against the tendency to expect to be loved by them in return. Jesus points to his own life, as if to prove the point. Though Jesus loved everyone and gave them an experience of his goodness and mercy, many hated him precisely because he did not fit in to their own expectation about him. Some rejected him since he was totally different from them in his lifestyle,while some others condemned him for his very teachings which were founded on the principle of love. However, Jesus also draws our attention to another aspect of the love of the world- the world loves the worldly, those who live in accordance with world’s principles and values. Therefore, it is better to be hated by the world temporarily than to lose God’s immeasurable and eternal love.