6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR C

Acts 15:1-2.22-29
Psalm 66
Apocalypse 21:10-14.22-23
John 14:23-29

“WE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT HAVE DECIDED”

If we allow ourselves to be guided by the Spirit of the Living God and keep the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, there will be peace, harmony and unity. And we will become citizens of the heavenly city which was shown to John in the second reading (Ap. 21:10-14.22-23).

In the gospel, Jesus highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church. The Holy Spirit is the ‘Advocate’, or ‘Paraclete’. According to William Barcley, the name ‘Paraclete’ is a transliteration of the  Greek word ‘parakletos’ which, in juridical parlance, means one’s advocate/lawyer, defender or counselor. He is also the Teacher and the Memory of the Church. For he “will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you,” said Jesus (John 14:23-29).

The first reading narrates the thrilling episode of the first council of Jerusalem (around 49 AD). The delicate issue was this: should the pagans who have become Christians be circumcised and observe the Law of Moses according to the Jewish tradition? The answer contained in a letter sent to the Christians states that: “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from fornication” (Acts 15).

Three lessons can be learnt from this passage. First, it is the Holy Spirit that enlightens and guides the Church and every Christian to discern and take good decisions in conformity with the will of God. Second, the Church is for everyone, because God makes no distinction and wants all people to be saved. Therefore, we must open the Church’s doors to anyone irrespective of his color, gender, political affiliation, or ethnic and social background. Lastly, conflicts and misunderstandings are inevitable in our church communities, families, groups or associations. But it is through dialogue, characterized by empathic listening and tolerance, that we can solve them.
May the Holy Spirit help us to take good decisions and be faithful to the love and will of the Lord.
Amen

5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR C

Acts 14:21-27
Ps 144:8-13
Apocalypse 21:1-5
John 13:31-35

          EVERYTHING NEW

Christianity is not a body of doctrines or an ideology. It is a lifestyle, a way of life, characterized by fraternal love, love without measure and which excludes no one. In the first reading, we hear of Paul and Barnabas, moving from one city to the other, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ with passion and determination despites the challenges they had to face. It was during this first missionary journey that they opened the door of faith to the pagans (Acts 14:21-27).

In the second reading, John shares with us his vision of a new heaven and a new earth as well as the New Jerusalem, the city of God, the dwelling-place of God among men. There is unending joy, peace, consolation in this city, because the Lord is making all things new. The way to get into this new world is the way of love.

Hence, at last supper, Jesus said to his disciples: “I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another”. What makes this commandment new is that we must love at the example of Jesus. He has loved us to the point of giving his life for us. Indeed, “no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

It is by loving everyone without distinction, that we can manifest our belongingness to Christ: “by this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples,” said Jesus. Can our parish communities, our prayers groups and associations, our homes be said of being communities of love? How much hatred, unforgiveness, selfishness, dissentions and divisions there is among us Christians! Let us love genuinely so as to become authentic witnesses of love in our contemporary world. Indeed, love changes everything and makes all things new. Let us the change our world by loving one another as Jesus has loved us.
 Amen

4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR C

Acts 13:14.43-52
Ps 99:1-3.5
Revelatio 7:9.14-17
John 10:27-30

The fourth Sunday of Easter is known as the Good Shepherd Sunday and is set aside to pray for vocations to the priestly and religious life. Hence, the name “Vocations Sunday.” God invites everyone and all people to friendship with him through Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, has become our Good Shepherd. Thus, if we heed to his voice and follow him, we become part of his sheepfold. And he will lead us to life-giving springs of water.

The invitation to be part of his flock is addressed to all of us without distinction. Those who accept the call and give their lives to him are assured of protection, security and life unending. However, belonging to Christ does not make us free from trials, sufferings and hostilities here on earth. In fact, there is a “great persecution” we must go through before we can share in the victory of the lamb. And this is what the second reading teaches us. John saw in a vision a huge crowd of people from every nation, race, tribe and language, standing before the Lamb and ready to celebrate their victory. They were those who had washed their robes white in the blood of Jesus.

Moreover, believing in the Good Shepherd and following him till the end is a personal choice. In the first reading, the Jews of Antioch of Pisidia heard the Good News of the Risen Jesus but rejected it. The pagans, on the contrary, received it with joy and thanksgiving.

As we pray for vocations today, let us ask the Lord to help the youth to answer his call freely and spontaneously. May he raise for his Church many shepherds after his own hearts and  give us holy priests, holy religious men and women.
Amen