Sunday, May 06, 2007

Fifth Sunday of Easter


Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis

Commentary:

Reading 1 Acts 14:21-27

This first reading recounts the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. It describes the model of how the church was built. Paul and Barnabas would enter a region and proclaim the Good News. They would then identify leaders among the converted, entrust the word to them and then move on. Since the scripture says those converted were Gentiles we assume they did not, as the tried in Antioch, begin with the Synagogues.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.

The psalm selection today is a song of thanksgiving. The hymn extols God’s saving works and commends the people to proclaim the word to all “the children of Adam” – the whole human race.

Reading II Rev 21:1-5a

In this selection from St. John’s Revelation, John has a vision of the “New Heaven” and the New Earth”, after Christ begins his reign at God’s right hand. The New Jerusalem, the image of God’s Church viewed as the bride with Christ the bridegroom. In this New Jerusalem, the Church, God dwells and there he will show his tender mercy (“He will wipe every tear from their eyes”) The old order is washed away; “Behold, I make all things new.”

Gospel Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35

We enter the Jesus story in St. John’s Gospel during the Last Supper. Judas has just fled and the Lord delivers the “New Commandment” - Love one another. By using those words, Jesus places himself with God whose commandments the disciples follow.

Reflection:

How can we not reflect on that subject that Jesus spoke of most frequently in his ministry – “Love one another”. The Gospel brings us to the point were Jesus knows the end is swiftly coming and the first thing, the most important thing he says to his disciples is “Love one another”. Taking his entire ministry and summing it up in one phrase, “Love one another” comes as close to anything.

The Lord’s appearance on earth was a testament to how much he loves us. His entire ministry, from the moment he walked out of the Jordan until he walked the hill of Calvary to his death was dedicated to that one example. We cannot look at a single action in the Lord’s life and not see that example to us. And here he says it plainly – “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Scholars point out that this was not, strictly speaking, a new commandment. They point out that in the book of Leviticus (
Lev 19:18), God gave a similar command, but no where in history was the example repeated so often nor said with such force. With these words the Lord created the New Jerusalem. The founding words of the Church, the bride of Christ, as we see in Revelations, are “Love one another.” It is the badge that identifies us to others of our faith, and indeed, the badge that tells us if one does not share that faith with us.

Given how important that identifier is, how must we express that commandment in our own actions? If that is how all will know that we are his disciples, how do we act toward one another such that it is proclaimed to the world? That is the hardest thing he asked us to do. We might say; “I love my neighbor.” But how often would people look and say, “If that was love, I don’t want to see hate.” We might say we love the members of our own family. But how many times have we said or done hurtful things?

It is the most difficult commandment God gives us and we must constantly strive to be a more perfect student of the God of Love. As we grow in faith that is our goal. How must that New Jerusalem be if all the saints have this attitude?

Pax
[1] After Links Expire
[2] The image today is “ The New Jerusalem descending from Heaven” by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1851-60

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