June 9, 2012 – John 15:18 – 16:24

16:2 – “They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour* is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.”  I just read an article/interview with an Archbishop about the Catholic Church in Iraq.  Here is a quote that goes along with this section.  “We see it as strengthening our relationship with Jesus who suffered and was crucified. This means reflecting on our wounds and not just bearing them, but taking these wounds with joy that we have participated in the suffering of Our Lord. We believe that true Christianity is a persecuted Christianity.”  I have written about this before, the idea that we complain when the Church is trampled on.  We do need to fight against it, but we must not lose hope that this persecution is an end or will lead to an end.  The Christian Church is a persecuted church at its core.  We are called to live in the image of Christ.  Accepting persecution was one of His greatest examples. 

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/chaldean-archbishop-true-christianity-is-a-persecuted-christianity?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NCRegisterDailyBlog+National+Catholic+Register#When:2012-06-12

“16:13 - But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.”  Notice that it does not say the spirit of truth will come and reveal everything at once but will “guide” us to all truth.  That says to me something that will happen over a period of time.  And there needs to be a resource that receives this truth so that we can be assured that we are getting the authentic truth.  Who could believe a truth that is supposedly revealed to anyone that feels that are listening and comes out with different and contradictory teachings?  That isn’t a truth I would trust or have any faith or hope in.