5TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE EASTER — YEAR C
5TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE EASTER — YEAR C
HOMILY THEME: SELF-SACRIFICIAL LOVE IS THE KEY TO HEAVENLY GLORY
BY: Fr. Celestine Muonwe
Acts 14:21-27, Rev 21:1-5, John 13:31-35
The message that runs through the readings of today is that love is eternal with God, and it renews all things in God, and is the source of Christian mission and the primary motto of Christianity. In the first reading, Paul and Barnabas were driven by this love, a great gift of the Holy Spirit, to embark on their first missionary journey to bring the gospel to the gentiles. Self-sacrificial love, known as the agape, is at the centre of every evangelisation, at the centre of the incarnation, and of the Christian essence.
ALSO RECOMMENDED: 5TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE EASTER
Paul and Barnabas on returning back to their base in Antioch strengthened the faith of the Christians, reminding them that love, which is manifest in enduring pains and suffering for the sake of truth and the gospel is necessary for anyone to inherit the kingdom of heaven. In order to continue the ministry of spreading the gospel, they conferred the authority of leadership of the local churches they had established on some members of the community of the faith through prayer and fasting.
In the second reading, St. John tells us about the renewing power of love in his vision of a new creation, a new heaven and a new earth, which has replaced the old creation marred by sin and the absence of love. The vision tells of the fate of the blessed, who while in the old creation lived the sacrificial love; they shall eventually reign and live with Christ in the new Jerusalem: “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men.” In this holy city, God’s will shall be perfectly done, and love will reign supreme, because God who is Love, will be with them: “He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them…”
Since the presence and the vision of God is their reward, all sorrows and tears experienced in the imperfect love on earth will be wiped out, and God Himself who has wrought this marvel of newness would declare: “Behold, I make all things new.” The Lord is always available to make all things new in our lives on earth, when we come close to Jesus and learn the principles of love, the Heart that is Love personified. Jesus makes all things new in our lives, each time we carry out our lives’ activities with love and self-sacrifice. Whenever we endure uncomfortable times, and situations to speak and live the truth, we bring about good, progress, development and meaning to our lives and the lives of others. Love is ever creative, just as God is.
In the Gospel, after the Lord had washed the feet of His disciples, and predicted Judas’ betrayal, Judas leaves the upper room to meet his conspirators and Jesus’ enemies. Jesus uses this opportunity to communicate to His disciples His final wishes and desires, in what is thought as Jesus’ Farewell Discourse. A typical farewell address is a common literary form found in both testaments ( 1 Chronicles 28-29; Joshua 23:24; Acts 20; 2 Peter), which is given by a person facing death, and includes blessings, exhortations, and the naming of a successor. Jesus begins the communication by talking about God’s and His own glorification: “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and in him God is glorified; if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.”
The word “God’s glory” is used in the Bible to speak of an aura associated with God’s appearance, which reveals God’s majesty to humans. For instance, God’s glory was revealed at Sinai (Exodus 24:16-17), also, the event of the transfiguration in Luke 9:23-34. In this sense, therefore, Jesus’ glorification is His death, resurrection, and ascension.
When Jesus says that the “the Son of Man has been glorified—God has been glorified” (v. 31), He speaks of glorification as both past and future. The past tense, “has been glorified,” reflects Jesus’ great act of self-sacrificial love manifest in His pristine great decision, to be obedient even to death on a cross: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lays down his life for his friends” (Jn.15:13) In other words, God’s glorification and our own glorification comes about whenever we humble ourselves and accept God’s will for us in absolute obedience like Jesus, whenever we love unconditionally and are ready to suffer for the cause of good, for the sake of others, for the course of humanity.
The future tense, “will also glorify,” anticipates His retaking His rightful place with the Father through His resurrection and ascension. In like manner our glorification will also come about when we die in Christ and live forever with Him in the glory of heaven, when God will make all things new, and tears will be wiped out from our eyes, and death, mourning and pain will be no more. (Rev.21:4-5).
Jesus further tells His disciples in more clearer terms the consequent effect of His impending glorification: “Little children, I will be with you a little while longer.You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come,’ so now I tell you.” Jesus called them little children in utmost expression of emotional affection, associated with words of farewell of this nature. However, He leaves them with what would ensure the continuity of His legacy on earth among them, the summary of His message and teachings, that when followed would lead them too to victory and glory: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another.”
This new commandment of love appears simple enough for a child to understand, but yet challenging enough, that no mature Christian will claim to have obeyed it fully. Besides it is also subject to varied interpretations today; in fact, love is one of the most misunderstood words in the world today. For many, it means erotic or the physical expression of sexual emotions, which God ordained to exist only within the context of marital union, but which today, is corrupted with the ultimate search for pleasure without the natural goal of child bearing.
For some, it is brotherly love or philia; that is the love that should exist between brothers and sisters of the same or different parents. For others, it is storge, that is, the affectionate dad or mum’s love for kids or vice versa. However, for very few it is love for God and love for neighbour on account of God’s love for us, which is agape love. This love is the love taught by Christ, which should colour all the other positive understandings of love today, and outside of which all other love is selfishness and evil.
Jesus calls this commandment new; but what is new about love of neighbour? Actually, the new commandment is not entirely new in the scriptural sense. In the Old Testament, the Book of Leviticus 19:18 says, “You shall not take vengeance nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am Yahweh.” However, that commandment required Israelites to love only other Israelites, but Leviticus 19:34 expands its scope: “The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.”
What, then, is new about Jesus’ commandment?
First, Jesus provides a clear model of the love He requires of us: “just like I have loved you, you also love one another”. Therefore, if we want to understand Christian love, we have only to look at Jesus’ life, His words and actions. How has Jesus showered love on His disciples: He protected them from dangers in the sea all through their stay, He fed them, He taught them, He prayed for them in John 17, He washed their feet, setting the tone for the humble service He expects Christians to render to each other, He laid down His life for them and for us. Therefore, the agape form of love is self-sacrificing, ready to give up its life, time and resources for the good of others. It is ready to render service and treat others as it would like to be treated. It seeks virtuous and good living as described by Paul in 1Cor.13.1-13. Heaven is all about this love, since God Himself is Love.
Secondly, this love focuses on the Christian community; we are to love Christian brothers and sisters. In the Synoptics, Jesus calls us to love our neighbors and enemies alike (Matthew 5:44; 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 6:27, 35). Thirdly, this new commandment inaugurates a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). While the mark of faithfulness to the old covenant was the obedience and strict observance of the Torah, the mark of faithfulness to the new covenant is love for those within the Christian community of faith. Fourthly, this new commandment is positive and pushes the Christian to do more, to go beyond limitation of colour, race, creed, tribe, etc. At the last day we shall be judged not based on the laws we have kept, but on the good we failed to do, that is, the negligence of our responsibility towards our neighbour. (Mt.25:31-46)
Therefore, rather than focusing on the ten commandments that begins with “Thou shalt not,” it says, “thou shalt”. Whereas many Old Testament laws were very specific, this law is very broad, there is no end to the requirements of the new law. No one can claim total compliance to the new lay, it is broad and limitless. But, when can one say he has loved enough? There is always need for more love. Hence, while one may respond to the old law with a bookkeeper’s mindset, not so with the new commandment of Christ!
A major characteristics of this love is that it is not acquired by mere human effort alone, it is a gift that flows from the bountiful love of God. When the disciples reacted to the words of Jesus to the rich young man about the great difficulty of the rich entering the kingdom of heaven, Jesus told them that with men, it is not possible, but with God, all things are possible. That means that with God’s grace, the rich young man could have had the courage and the ability to sell all he had and given the money to the poor, instead of leaving the scene sad. As such, our action-love is a gift of Christ, who loves us, shows us how love behaves, and makes of us a new people born again in His image and capable of loving with His love. Hence, we truly obey this commandment when we can repeat with St. Paul, “It is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20).
Jesus, finally reminds the apostles, that their testament and effort to abide by the new commandment will be a proof to people of His work and person in history, and ultimately lead to the growth of the community of faith: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” The Church grew rapidly after the resurrection, on account of the gift of the Holy Spirit that sparked the fire of Christian love among the believers: “See how they love one another,” the pagans said (Tertullian, Apology). It is difficult not to respond to the witness of life of a loving person. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, was once asked by a Hindu patient of hers whether Jesus behaved the same manner she behaved, and she confirmed that Jesus’ virtuous life was greater than hers; and subsequently, the patient asked for baptism.
Meanwhile, ignoring this new commandment is not an option. Paul warns, “If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal,… If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). The Good News is that God loves everyone of us in spite of us. We must pray for the grace to keep the new commandment, and for grace when we fail.
Prayer
May the Holy Spirit help us to live and die in the Christian love of God and neighbour.
FOR A SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE >>>>>
Dear friends in Christ, Your support for the past 12years has kept us going. We ask you to support us with your donations to enable us to upset our “annual bills”. Our priests are willing to offer Holy Masses for your Private Intentions. May you Click on “Next”, or the “Donate” button to get started. God bless you!!!
