5th Sunday of Easter Year C.
Readings: Acts 14:21-27, Rev. 21:1-5, and Jn. 13:31-35.
“Loving One Another as Christians is the Fullness of the Law.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
1. The first of the three Sacraments of Christian initiation is Baptism. This is the Sacrament that admits us as members of the Church; it cleanses us from Original Sin and all actual sins committed before Baptism. In Baptism, we become children of God. Baptism leaves a mark on our souls that cannot be wiped. In Baptism, we gain the name “Christians.” Once we are baptized, we are Christians forever by name. We need Baptism for Salvation; without Baptism one cannot see God. Scriptures testify to this reality. The Church teaches that there are three types of Baptism – that of Water, that of Desire, and that of Blood. The life we receive at Baptism is personal life of Christ in which we die with Him and rise with Him to the glory of God. This life is made fruitful in the reception of yet another Sacrament – Confirmation. When we are confirmed, we are filled with God’s Holy Spirit. In Baptism, we are filled with Faith, Hope, and Charity and with God’s Holy Spirit. In Confirmation, the fullness of the Holy Spirit is received in which case - We have faith, and we strive to instill it in others; we have hope, and we strive to instill it in others; we have love, and we strive to instill it in others. In a similar manner, we care, and we teach others to do the same etc.
2. Given the challenges that life offers, the Christian life in us is often nourished with the Holy Eucharist. We receive the Body of Christ as food for our bodies and souls thus receiving the strength to grow in God’s own love and life. We are nourished to have the grace to bear witness as Christians in our families, in our workplaces and in the world. This is because we are aware, as we were told in the first reading that: “We must experience many hardships before we can enter the Kingdom of God.” In this text from the Acts, and in many other texts in the Scriptures, we are assured that suffering, purifies, brings glory and salvation. The Eucharist empowers us in the face of suffering. In the gospel text we read today, Jesus tells us that the Son of Man is to be glorified, and God will be glorified as well. This glory was in the Cross. Jesus’ glory on the Cross reveals to us that there is salvation therein. We do not look for the Cross as a choice, but we embrace it in whatever form God gives it to us. We empower ourselves with the Eucharist to carry the Cross, not to avoid or run away from it.
3. Jesus would later declare: “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Jesus proved his great love for us his friends when he willingly went to the Cross. He did this because it was the only price and condition for us to be set free from sin and death and so become friends of God. In other words, Jesus is telling us, true love entails sacrifice. He has shown us that by acting it out – pouring out himself in service, even to calamity’s depths. Sacrifice worth the name has no limits. We are alive, happy, and strong because someone who loves us sacrifices time, energy, resources to make us smile each new day. That is what sacrificing for a friend entails; that we continue to open our circles, especially to those to whom we are least attracted.
4. What does it mean to be a Christian? Essentially, it means you must relate well with God and with humanity. God created us and the world thus He has a right to our worship and praise of Him. In so doing we strive to know Him, love Him, and serve Him. In this consist our worship of him - keeping Sunday holy by abstaining from work and making it a day of intense and prolonged prayer; we do not call the name of the Lord in vain. Added to this, we show concern to humanity, giving a helping hand where we can. In practical terms you forgive those who offend you; build unity with your brothers and sisters; pray for others; show love to friends and enemies alike; reconcile with all etc.
5. Another secret of divine friendship is this request to his disciples: “If you love me, keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15). We need no effort to realize that the greatest sign of love for someone is obedience to that person. Jesus has done it all for us, all he expects from us is a sign of gratitude, keep the commandments. Jesus has summed them all up in just one, love. In today’s Gospel text Jesus said: “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.” The truth, my dear friends is, because Christ has made every one of us his friends, we all now form a family of friends in and with Jesus. In this family some are poor, others rich; some have 20 talents, others only 5; some are teachers, others students; some are doctors, others patients; some are shepherds, others the sheep; some are parents, others children, etc. But one thing only makes us all one, love.
6. “But what does this love look like?” one may ask. In the words of the great scholar and doctor of the Church, St. Augustine of Hippo, we find the answer to our question: “Love has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men and women everywhere. That is what love looks like.” It is sad to note that the greatest crisis in our world today is not the shortage of resources, neither is it unemployment, nor economic crises; it is the lack of true love! Let us consider this quote from Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta: “Spread love everywhere you go: first, in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor… Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.” May this encourage us to love more than we have been doing and remain in love with Jesus as his friends. May we all grow in his love and so grow to be better families, friends, and loved ones in God. Be a true friend to all, then you will be a true friend of Jesus.
To God be the glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.
Fr. Anthony D Lawir,
Pastor, St. Agnes and Our Lady of the Snows Parishes, Pittsfield and Dexter