Haters of good people

Sometimes it can be very apparent that the world does not like God's faithful people.

Today’s readings involve wicked people trying to destroy good ones.

In the Gospel (John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30), it is the death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that is being sought.

The first reading (Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22) explains the murderous motivation of many who seek to destroy righteous people.

The wicked said among themselves,
thinking not aright:
"Let us beset the just one,
because he is obnoxious to us;
he sets himself against our doings,
Reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.

He professes to have knowledge of God
and styles himself a child of the LORD.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts;
merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like that of others,
and different are his ways.

He judges us debased;
he holds aloof from our paths
as from things impure.

Sometimes the pressure that they put upon us can be very great, but infinitely greater is the power and protection and ultimate safety of God.

With revilement and torture
let us put him to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.

Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words,
God will take care of him."

These were their thoughts, but they erred;
for their wickedness blinded them,
and they knew not the hidden counsels of God;
neither did they count on a recompense of holiness
nor discern the innocent souls' reward.