Gospel (Jn 15,18-21) - At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: «If the world hates you, know that it hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love what is of it; but since 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 too; if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all this to you because of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

Jesus, after speaking of the intimate relationship of love that binds him to his disciples, speaks of the hatred that those same disciples will be subjected to in the world. There is in fact a profound, radical irreconcilability between the gratuitous love that is typical of the true disciple of Jesus and the worldly logic that always seeks profit, or, at least, reciprocation in every situation of life. Only if you walk on the path of evangelical love do you become a sign of contradiction for the world. Jesus waged a real fight against evil and its power over men. The disciples, obviously, being with Jesus, will receive the same hostility that falls on him. For this reason Jesus warns the disciples of all times: «If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also." The disciple who lives the Gospel becomes a sign of the Lord himself. Whoever welcomes him and imitates his example welcomes and imitates Jesus himself. And whoever despises the disciple despises Jesus himself. This is what was revealed to Paul on the road to Damascus. The Lord said to him: "Saul, why do you persecute me?". In this question, the close bond that exists between Jesus and the disciples, including us, clearly appears. And it explains the reason for the opposition to Christians still today. The evangelical message always remains an alternative to the egocentric mentality of the world.