Thursday, April 24, 2008

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter


Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest, Martyr

Readings for Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Commentary:

Reading 1 Acts 15:7-21

The debate over whether the Gentiles must follow all of the Law of Moses continues as St. Paul addresses the Apostles in Jerusalem. Supported by St. Peter, he makes the fundamental argument that all are invited to be saved through faith in Christ. The “yoke” Paul speaks of is a reference to the “Yoke of the Torah” or the “Kingdom of Heaven” not necessarily a burden but a goal.

The response of St. James (same as the one related in
Gal 2:1-10) makes an apostolic decree. St. Luke here apparently combines two distinct events. The First Jerusalem Council which deals with circumcision and the second which deals with dietary laws.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 10
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Once again today a song of praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 96 a Royal Psalm) is used in conjunction with the theme from Acts of announcing God’s salvation to all peoples of all lands.

Gospel John 15:9-11

Discourse on the union of Jesus with his disciples continues. His words become a monologue and go beyond the immediate crisis of Christ’s departure. In this passage Jesus focuses on the chain of love from the Father, through the Son, to us.

Homily:

“If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love…” We are given a very concise instruction in today’s Gospel and a very generous gift. The Lord offers us his love, his consolation, his peace and all he asks is that we keep his commandments. The most important of these he will utter in the verse from St. John’s Gospel that immediately follows our reading today– “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.”

There are, in the Book of the Law in the Old Testament, over 200 laws and commandments. Of all of those laws the ones that deal with behavior not with diet can be summarized in two short statements; “Love God” and “Love one another.” So the only question we need to answer is, how do we demonstrate that we are doing this?

We are given one person’s answer to that question in Blessed Damien, whose memorial we celebrate today. He exemplified “love one another” by going to the lepers in Hawaii and ministering to them. Be brought love to those who were outcast and unloved by the world. His was the extreme response to Christ’s call. What will ours be?

We start with where we are. We start with those with whom we have the most contact and we convey our love, Christ’s love to them. We then listen for God to give us other opportunities and respond as often as possible. In that way “…my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.”

Pax

[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture today is “St. James the Greater” by Alonso Cano, 1635

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