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Year - B

Homily for Fifth Sunday of Easter

READ: (Acts 9: 26-31; 1 Jn 3: 18-24; Jn 15: 1-8)

REFLECT: United to Christ we stand and succeed, divided to Christ we fall and fail…

Dear friends, we are in the fifth Sunday of Easter. We are all familiar with the proverb, “United we stand divided we fall.” Yes, unity brings and promotes communion and fellowship in one’s relationship, whereas division or disunity only disrupts harmony and peaceful co-existence with one another. Something similar can happen to us in our relationship with God too. When we are united with Christ, Christ makes us strong, we become firm in the faith we profess and the life that we live becomes inspiring and encouraging to one another but when we divide our attention and focus on Christ we fail in life. Therefore, in what ways we can unite ourselves with Christ is the mainstream of our reflection for today’s liturgy of the word. So based on the readings of the day, I would like to share with you three points of reflection to be united with Christ.

1. Have fear of God and Spirit’s guidance:

The book of Proverbs very correctly says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding,” (Prov 9:10). surely, the fear of God is not a fear that’s caused by human emotions or feelings rather it is a reverential fear that arises out of respect and holiness of God. That’s what we see in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles at the end of the reading, “And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” Yes, the reverence and respect for the holiness and highness of God, the guidance of the spirit inspired them to proclaim Christ boldly; consequently the people were increasingly larger in number for Christ.

At the start of the first reading, we hear that the disciples were afraid to take Saul in their group, because they did not believe that Saul (Paul) was the true disciple of Jesus. But we see Barnabas makes known to the other apostles, how Saul was transformed to Paul by Damascus experience and encounter with Christ, as narrated in Acts of the Apostles (Acts 9: 1-19). The following episode of Acts 9:1-19 is what we have for today’s first reading (Acts 9: 26-31). The main thread that connected Paul, Barnabas, the disciples and apostles were - fear of God and the guidance of the Spirit. The fear of God and the guidance of the Spirit inspired the apostles to take Saul into their group; the fear of God and the Spirit of God united them as band of preachers proclaim Christ boldly to people; the fear of God and the guidance of the spirit enabled disciples to help Saul from being killed as Saul spoke and disputed against the Hellenists/Greeks.

Today what can unite each one of us to God our Saviour is reverential fear of God and being guided by the spirit of God to work for common cause, making known Christ everywhere. Most of us lack the reverential fear of God that arises out of holiness and love. We look at God as a police man, who grabs a robber by throat for faults or a police who punishes the wrongdoer for their wickedness and crookedness. Today, we need to get rid of such biased and unnecessary fears and threats about God in life. As our experience shows that God is a common and powerful force for all of us, who gives life and who guides us and who guards. His spirit enables and inspires each one for the good of all. It is our human mind that creates division and partiality. God considers us all as his children in whatever condition we may be in. Such is the love and generosity of God. 

However, the church of God continues to grow in the midst of crisis and chaos by the grace and deliverance of God. There was peace throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria, while the apostles and disciples proclaimed Christ. That’s what the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us, “So the Church throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up.” Yes, it is God who works and it is God who makes us work for the spread of his kingdom on earth. The time of blessedness has begun for the disciples as they were walking in fear of the Lord and in comfort of the Holy Spirit. It manifests that when we give our due glory, honor and respect to God, when we attune to the Spirit of God and are at ease with His spirit, God inspires and changes life for better, God makes peace prevails on earth. Most of us have a conception that I or we build the church. I don’t think so. It is God who builds the Church. It is God who brings the Church to the process of prosperity and peace.  We are all co-workers or contributors in the building process of Church’s prosperity and peace as God is our head and guide.

Pope Francis Very beautifully says concerning the fear of the Lord, “When we are pervaded by fear of the Lord, then we are led to follow the Lord with humility, docility and obedience. This, however, is not an attitude of resignation, passivity or regret, but one of the wonder and joy of being a child who knows he is served and loved by the Father. Fear of the Lord, therefore, does not make of us Christians who are shy and submissive, but stirs in us courage and strength! It is a gift that makes of us Christians who are convinced, enthusiastic, who aren’t submissive to the Lord out of fear but because we are moved and conquered by his love.” That’s what we see in the first reading among the disciples and apostles. The apostles accepted Paul to be in their group to proclaim Christ; they together bore witness to Christ; they helped, supported and saved the life of Paul from the Hellenists. Therefore, the fear of the Lord and the spirit of God allow us to be humble, docile and obedient to God’s words and works. So let our fear be a holy fear of God that changes life for the good and benefit of all; let our life be led by the spirit of God to renew our lives in Christ.

2. Love God’s commandments:

We read in the Gospel of John, “By this shall all know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another,” (Jn 13:35). We know that this particular verse of the Gospel of John is placed in the context of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, where Jesus stoops down to the disciples, as a servant makes known the love that he has for his disciples. Jesus manifests that this could well be another way of leadership, inspiring and motivating others to follow Christ and to love God more intensely. Therefore, the characteristic mark of discipleship in Jesus is based on our love for God and for one another, a love that’s genuine, a love that’s unconditional and a love that arises out of humility without pride and arrogance. Something similar we find in the second reading from the first letter of St. John that love is the uniting factor to be in union with God and bring people to union with God as well.

The second reading from St. John in his first letter invites us to love not merely in word or talk rather by deeds and in truth. Yes, the mere expression ‘I love you’ or ‘I love God’ won’t be as powerful and inspiring in comparison with the love that’s manifested in action for God and for his people. The love that’s concretely manifested has a greater value and has a long-lasting impact than love that’s merely uttered in words. Therefore, in what way we can manifest our love in action is revealed to us in the second reading from St. John’s first letter itself. Towards the end of the second reading we hear, “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him and he is in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the spirit whom he has given us.”

Yes, following the commandments of God and abiding in his commandment would prove that we are committed and dedicated followers of Christ and ardent lovers of God and his people. The basic and fundamental command or commandment of God is ‘love’. The quality of love in relationship is not measured by our human perception and a concept rather the perception and conception of God. It is God who makes and takes decision about the quality of love that we manifest. Indeed, God knows very well what genuine love is and what is not. So let us not measure the quality of love with the limitedness of human mind, where it can go wrong and take a different direction all together. Let us understand the love of God, the love of God that’s pure; the love of God that does not judge; the love of God that does not become jealous and possessive; the love of God that is not partial and conditional.

Pope Francis shares, “This is the legacy that Christ bequeathed to us, the ultimate criterion for discerning whether or not we are truly his disciples. It is the commandment of love. Let us stop to consider two essential elements of this commandment: Jesus’ love for us “as I have loved you” and the love he asks us to show to others “so you must love one another”. So today, what could unite all of us is not hate but love. God united the sinful humanity not by hate but by love in and through his Son Jesus Christ. God sent his only Son as expiation for our sins, a source of redemption and salvation. Let us love God and his commandments and then through it to love one another.

3. Remain in Jesus:

We all of us know what it means to remain, “to stay or continue in the same place or condition.” To continue to stay in a particular place and condition is not an easy task to do. We need a lot of focus; we need to be firm; we need to be faithful and we need to fine tune our stay day by day. So to remain in Jesus would mean to continue being with Jesus in heart, mind, body and soul, fully engrossed and engaged in Jesus’ words and deeds. Such a firm, faithful and focused stay would bring in a positive change and a steady growth in life.

That’s what we hear in the Gospel reading of St. John in and through the parable of the vine and the branches that speaks of the unity of Jesus and the Father and the followers of Jesus Christ. We all know that in the Old Testament, vine dresser or the gardener was used for God and vine for the people of Israel, who were disobedient to God by waywardness and unfaithfulness. The people of Israel were subject to judgment before God for their disobedience and unfaithfulness. However, in the New Testament, in the parable of the vine and the branches that’s presented to us today, God remains the vinedresser or gardener, Jesus identifies himself as vine, who is perfectly obedient to God and the branches are the follower of Christ. Jesus invites his followers to abide or remain in him as Jesus abides in the Father. The reason for abiding and remaining is to bear good fruit and fruit in plenty. Jesus assures people those who abide in him would be pruned for growth and also warns people those who do not abide in Jesus would be pruned and thrown away.

Therefore, based on our unity with God and with Jesus we would know whether we become productive or unproductive in life. Our productivity is basically in association and abiding with Jesus and without uniting with Jesus, there won’t be fruition possible. That’s why Jesus says, “For without me you can do nothing.” Moreover, we all of us know that a branch cannot grow on its own without the support of the vine and the vinedresser. The branch is not self-contained rather it is dependent on the vine/sap and the vinedresser for nourishment and strength. Similarly, we the Disciples of Christ cannot stand by ourselves nor do any good without being united with Jesus the mainstream of life. So our unique identity and connection with Jesus is our association and abiding in him alone.

That’s what Pope Francis as well very beautifully pointed out that “There is no vine without branches, and vice versa. The branches are not self-sufficient, but depend totally on the vine, which is the source of their existence. Before leaving this world and going to the Father, Jesus wants to reassure his disciples that they can continue to be united with him. This abiding is not a question of abiding passively, of “slumbering” in the Lord, letting oneself be lulled by life. The abiding in him that Jesus proposes is abiding actively, and reciprocally. We need Jesus: before the observance of his commandments, before the beatitudes, before works of mercy, it is necessary to be joined to him, to abide in him. We cannot be good Christians if we do not abide in Jesus. And yet with him, we can do everything.”

Yes, the unique identity and characteristic feature of Christians is that we bear good fruit and fruit in plenty, if only we abide in Jesus, the source of existence of living on earth. Today, what makes us all to fall away from the association with Jesus is our feeling of self-sufficiency and a feeling that one is indispensable. The world has seen and proved that without us, others could still exist but without God or Jesus we won’t be able to exist or live as good people. Even if we exist without God’s assurance and presence, life would be lifeless, meaningless and frivolous. So remaining in God is allowing God to take control of our lives and make him part of our lives to enjoy every good pleasure that God in his goodness allows it to happen. To remain in God and Jesus is to make them as main and key part of our daily living. So let us make God as the main focus of life or center of life and live life happily, experiencing the blessing of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

RESPOND:

Do we have the holy fear of God and rely on the spirit of God for guidance and security in life?

Do we love the command and commandments of God or do we find it taxing and heavy to walk on?

Do we remain in Jesus the main stem and the most important person in our lives, who gave us life by giving his life for us all?

So let us be united with God by holy fear of God and the guidance of his Spirit, love God’s commands all the more eagerly and remain in Jesus, the main person of life, who gives, sustains and make us obtain eternal life. Amen.

God bless us all! Live Jesus!

Fr. Ramesh George MSFS

rameshvkmsfs@gmail.com

9500930968