Sixth Sunday of Easter Year B | Homily for 5th May 2024

 

My dear friends today we celebrate the sixth Sunday of Easter year B. I have chosen the readings for my reflection as per the ordo of the Archdiocese of Bombay which could differ from the readings in other regions. The first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles contains extracts from the encounter between Peter and Cornelius who both saw visions given by God. The important theme of this narrative is that God doesn’t show favouritism or partiality. The standard for righteousness in the past had been adherence to Jewish law. However, Peter says that he now understands that fearing God i.e. having reverence for God and doing what is right are now the criteria by which God will judge. As Peter was speaking God chose that moment to bestow the Holy Spirit on all including the Gentiles. God gives the gift of the Spirit as confirmation of his intention to accept Gentiles into the church without prior conversion to the Jewish faith. The speaking in tongues is a certain sign that these Gentiles have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Today’s reading presents before us a paradigm shift in Christians’ understanding, regarding how wide-reaching God’s favour truly is. While the Jews had always felt that God’s salvation and grace were exclusive only to them, the Holy Spirit revealed to Peter that the scope of salvation transcends the Jewish boundaries. In this event and the Pentecost scene, the prophecy of Joel (Joel 2:28) is fulfilled: the Spirit is poured out on all flesh…not just Jews, not just pious, righteous churchgoers, but on ALL people, bringing salvation.

What seems quite acceptable to us today was shocking to the people back then. There is a danger that something similar could be happening in the church in today’s time. Is it possible that we have somehow become so rigid in our thought processes that we are not open to accepting what the spirit is asking us to? Could it be possible that our structures and rules make us unable to see God moving in a new direction? In my limited pastoral experience, I have often come across this statement “Father, over here this is how we have always been doing things” and trust me it is very difficult to make people see another perspective. The Holy Spirit is not static it is dynamic and therefore I believe that He is leading us, and perhaps challenging us to try new things in our ministries, to begin very unique work in unique places. So if you have given up something because this is not how we do things in this parish, today's reading is an invitation to give it a shot.

The second reading taken from the first letter of John explores the significance and implications of the statement ‘God is love.’ John emphasizes that the love of God is revealed through the initiative, taken by God, in and through the act of sending his only Son into the world. The atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is the supreme act of love on which every other loving act of Christians is based. Normally, it would be expected that the humans who are so loved by God must reciprocate this love by loving God. But here the author changes the direction of returned love from God towards fellow human beings. The vertical love that is coming from God should be transmitted horizontally. If the Christians love their brother or sister, then they can succeed in making the previously unseen Lord present among themselves. Thus the commandment to love is founded on the core of Christian faith, namely, the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This core element is not just the basis for love, it is itself an act of love and so is a model par excellence for every other act of love.

In the gospel taken from John, we come across an extract from the text that has been called the "high priestly prayer" of Jesus. It is a farewell speech in anticipation of the ascension. Jesus speaks as an intercessor, with words addressed directly to the Father praying for unity and recalling the interconnectedness between the Father and the Son, and the Son and his disciples. There are 4 major parts to this prayer – First, Jesus prays that the Father will protect his disciples. Second, Jesus prays that the disciples may experience the full measure of his joy within them. Third, Jesus prays that the disciples will be protected from the evil one and lastly, Jesus prays that the disciples will be sanctified and set apart for ministry. The Father sent Jesus into the world to communicate the gospel, and now Jesus sends his disciples out into the world to perform this same ministry.

Let's look at some of the significant themes which emerge from this prayer. From Jesus' prayer, we know what awaits true disciples of Christ – hatred from the world. That’s not so surprising as this was also the fate of Jesus. Persecution has been a part and parcel of Christianity since its origins and it continues even today. I remember one of our Theology professors telling us in class that in your ministry if you are not facing any opposition from anyone then you are not doing any good work. We have to remember that we have been called by God to get involved with this world. We are not meant to take the easy way out and withdraw from the world and hide away by choosing silence and non-involvement. If we choose to do that then surely we won’t have to worry about anyone hating us, but that’s not Jesus’ prayer for us. He says, “In the world you face persecution. But take courage, I have conquered the world.”  (Jn 16:33)

Another theme which emerges is that of the World. Jesus lived in the world but was not of the world. He lived a life and preached values contrary to what was the accepted norm. When I joined the Jesuits we underwent the first stage of formation i.e. the Novitiate. That was a time of going away from the world and the people we knew and loved to experience a deeper love which can't be experienced in the temporary world. Without making this break from the world we cannot experience the deeper calling from God. We need to ask ourselves - What is my understanding of “the world”? Do I live contrary to today’s accepted norms, or do I compromise my faith to adjust to the system? I pray that each one of us may be able to explore new ways of living out our mission and live fully the life which Jesus desired for each of us. May God bless us all.