In John's Gospel, the "world" is a difficult idea to understand. It does not refer to what we would mean if we said we were taking a "trip around the world". Rather it refers to wherever Jesus and His message are not made welcome. In contrast to the believing community, where Jesus is received, there is the "world", where He is rejected.

Since the world did not receive Jesus, neither will it receive those who are sent in His name. His followers, therefore, can expect trouble. So Jesus consoles them in today's Gospel with a promise of peace and an assurance that He has conquered the world. They will need these gifts.

We need them too. Anyone who tries today to be a follower of Jesus knows something of the trouble that this world can cause. Because we follow Him, we are often misunderstood, ridiculed, even opposed. This makes it hard to keep going; but the promises of the Gospel give us heart. And we can take further courage from today's reading from Acts, which tells of the gift of prophecy that the Holy Spirit gives to Jesus' followers. So we know we shall speak the right words, because we shall not be speaking alone.