But take courage, I have conquered the world

At 19,1-8; Ps 67; Jn 16,29-33
3 JUNE

The world, which is a symbol and figure of evil, can be overcome by the Christian. Jesus overcame it. How? By letting himself be guided by the Holy Spirit for an ever ready and immediate obedience to his Father. Even for Saint Paul the world will be overcome, if in every moment or event of life, we remain in the Word of Christ in the same way that Christ remained in the Word of the Father. Jesus obeyed until death by Cross. The disciple also obeys until death in every tribulation, suffering and trial. Who obeys overcomes the world. In sin one is a slave to it. Sin is defeat.

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rm 8,28-39).

The Apostle John announces to Christians that the world is conquered through faith. Faith is very pure obedience to every Word of Christ the Lord. You obey, you win. You disobey, you are defeated. Can we always obey? We can do it because Jesus could do it. If Christ, true man, has obeyed, we can also obey.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the father loves (also) the one begotten by him. In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. Who (indeed) is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours. We know that no one begotten by God sins; but the one begotten by God he protects, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one. We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment to know the one who is true. And we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Children, be on your guard against idols (cf. 1Jn 5,1-21).

Jesus is with the Father. The Father is with Jesus. Jesus is in the Father’s will. The Father is in the will of Jesus. In obedience one is in a perfect communion of life. On Christ, by obedience, the whole power of the Father is poured out in the Holy Spirit and Satan cannot do anything against the Father and his Holy Spirit. If Jesus had gone out of obedience, He would also have been defeated by Satan. Instead, he planted himself in the heart of the Father and his will and Satan was unable to do anything. Obedience is an invincible force. Today this problem of victory no longer exists. The Christian has surrendered to the world in everything.

His disciples said, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, reawaken in Christians the true faith, necessary to win.