John 15:18. I’m often asked about the Bible quote in my Instagram bio. What does it read, what does it mean, why did I choose that quote? It reads the familiar lines, “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.” I resonate with this scripture because I know in times of struggle, my God is with me through it all.

When Christ came into the world, He was hated by many to the point of crucifixion. The hate Christ experienced was what ultimately led to His death.

In today’s world, Christianity, especially the Catholic faith, isn’t particularly seen in the most desirable light. It’s not “cool” to command oneself to live a holy, virtuous life exemplified by Christ and the Saints. We live in a world where sin is idolized to the point where worldly morality goes against the teachings of the Catholic Church. Public hate towards our faith bleeds throughout the entertainment and music industries where our Lord is constantly made a mockery. In today’s reading Jeremiah 20:10-13, we see a similar message to the one displayed in my Instagram bio. The prophet Jeremiah is experiencing hatred, but he remembers that God is with him. With this strong faith in God, Jeremiah overcomes the hatred being expressed towards him. Today’s Gospel John 10:31-42, shows us a Christ-like response to hate. As the Jews that believed that Christ was blasphemous stoned Him, Christ recited their own scripture to them before continuing to spread the love of God. Jesus is the ultimate example of love, as He died for you and me and all of humanity. He spent His life sharing that love with us even when the world mocked him, stoned him, and crucified Him.

Christ’s response in today’s Gospel encourages us to keep our own heads up amidst hatred from the world. When others make fun of us or discourage us from our own goals, we must be like Christ and continue to work hard and stand up for ourselves. Not only should we be like Christ, but also be with Christ.

This Lenten season, we must recognize that through our struggles Christ is with us. When the pressure of the world overwhelms us, we are called to be like Jeremiah in the first reading and recognize that, “... the LORD is with [us], like a mighty champion: [our] persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.” God loves us, God is with us, and with faith in our God we can get through our toughest battles.