HOMILY FOR THE 5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER. MAY 15, 2022
Sunday Readings
The essence of Christianity is to propagate love. We truly become Christians when people identify us not by our achievements or qualifications but by the measure of love we radiate and share.– Clem C. Aladi
My dearest brothers and sisters,
You are welcome on this 5th Sunday of Easter. On this Sunday Christ reminds us that our real identity as Christians and disciples of Christ lies in our keeping the commandment of love and in drawing closer to God in our suffering. In this way God renews the Church and His people and dwells in their midst.
In the first reading of today, Paul and Barnabas through their missionary work, embarked on renewing the mission that focused on making and strengthening disciples, appointing elders to oversee the growth of the seed of faith sown in these new disciples, and above all commending them to God through prayer and fasting. Worthy of mention in the missionary apostolate of Paul and Barnabas is what I call the truth of discipleship captured in these words ”… and exhorted them to persevere in the Faith, saying, “We must undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” This exultation to persevere in faith as we undergo hardships for the sake of heaven would make Paul and Barnabas very unpopular in our modern society where no one wants to hear about suffering. People want to hear about prosperity and this is why many have lost the virtue of perseverance. This timely exhortation of Paul and Barnabas to the disciples of the early Church is a timely reminder to all of us that it is a matter of necessity to endure hardships to enter Heaven. No matter what kind of hardship you are going through, rest assured that God who promises to renew all things will never fail to reward your perseverance with joy and eternal life in the end. Through perseverance, your interior life is renewed and God dwells within you to strengthen you. The more love we share with others the less the burden of affliction of many. When we ceased to radiate love but propagate hate, the more hardship and suffering we inflict on others. Love shared is burden relieved.
The second reading from the Book of Revelation, explains how God renews His Church, the New Jerusalem, by being present in her members and their parish communities and liturgical celebrations. “See, I am making all things new.” The Presence of God renews His church and His people. The Gospel explains what we must do to keep God’s Renewing Presence alive in our midst.
“By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
Today’s Gospel passage gives us the secret of Christian renewal as the faithful practice of Jesus’ new commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:35) Jesus has added a new element to the Old Testament command of love by teaching us that the true test of discipleship is to love other people in the same way that He loves us, with sacrificial, unconditional, agápe love. Hence, the renewal of Christian life means a radical change of vision and a reordering of our priorities in life. Such a renewal brings us to embrace new attitudes, such as,being friendly, caring, compassionate, true, and honest. We must develop new standards of relating to God, to other people, and, to the whole of creation.
Let us love others in our daily lives. We are asked to love as Jesus loved in the ordinary course of our lives. We love others by responding to their everyday needs with love and compassion. We love others by comforting and protecting those who have experienced loss. We love others by serving them in every possible way, no matter how small, seeing the face of Jesus in them. We love others by forgiving rather than condemning and by challenging rather than condoning. Finally, we love others by sacrificially sharing our time, talents, and blessings with them.
Let us demonstrate our love for others in our gatherings and parish assemblies. When we are assembled as a family, or as a religious or social community we have an opportunity to demonstrate our love for one another. People must see Christians as people who interact with love and concern for one another and which reveals their strong love and appreciation for each other. They should see in us a quickness to appreciate and a readiness to forgive.
May God renew us in our innermost beings and transform the spirit of hatred and wickedness that has blinded our love for others. May He make us true disciples and children of a loving and forgiving God.
I keep you and your family always in my prayers. ©Clem C. Aladi (2024)
