That reading strongly resonated with me today. I often feel like I am on the defensive because of my faith, that even some of my friends are looking for a misstep on my part that vindicates their disagreement with the tenants of my faith. Sometimes, my frustration comes from others who claim to follow my faith, but who then misrepresent the actual teachings of Jesus.
Yet I am also comforted by this passage and the second reading that warns against conforming to the beliefs of the times. This means that my struggle is not a new one. People of faith, even those whose words have made it into the Bible, have had to deal with these same problems.
Just knowing that fact makes me feel less alone.