Love for the Risen Christ!: Sixth Sunday of Easter
Sermon by Emmanuel Suntheni OSB – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Sermon And Christian Act In The Word
Theme: Go beyond do’s and don’t‘s of Christian rules! Thus=the Spiritual Resurrection! Love for the Risen Christ!
Point of Reflection: One of the reasons why some reject Christianity is because they perceive it as a religion of rules and not a relationship of love. What motivates me to follow Christ and seek an ethical life – is it fear of breaking rules or love for Christ? Today’s liturgy focuses on the impact that Jesus’s resurrection has, or should have, on believers’ hearts and lives. The prerequisite for the bodily resurrection at the end of time is the spiritual resurrection in this life. This present resurrection is the rising from the tomb of internal apathy and indifference.
First Reading: Acts 8:5–8, 14–17
Psalm: Psalm 66:1–7, 16, 20
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15–18
Gospel: John 14:15–21
Sermon (Reflection): The Easter season’s readings emphasize that Jesus’ resurrection provides meaning and direction for believers’ lives. Today’s liturgy pays particular attention to the effects of the resurrection on the human heart. Because of its attention to the Holy Spirit, this Sunday’s liturgy also begins to prepare for the concluding celebration of the Easter season, Pentecost.
The first reading, from the book of Acts, describes an episode which is sometimes called “the Samaritan Pentecost”, because it describes how the inhabitants of Samaria experienced the coming of the Holy Spirit. Another interesting and significant feature related in this text, is a gap between the baptism of the Samaritans and their reception of the Spirit that followed only later. Such separation is unusual, as baptism was normally accompanied by immediate descent of the Spirit (cf. Acts 2:38; 9:17-18) or even preceded by it (cf. Acts 10:44-48).
Philipp’s mission to Samaria presents the first significant step in the Church’s expansion beyond Jerusalem, and into the non-Jewish lands. The Samaritans believed in Christ, responding to Phillip’s proclamation, healings and exorcisms. These proved to them that his message was accompanied by divine power. The Samaritans were baptised by Phillip, but it was only after Peter and John came down from Jerusalem, and laid their hands upon them, that they received the Holy Spirit, thereby becoming full members of the Christian community. The resurrection affects the human spirit at the deepest level, and makes it ready to receive and channel the divine power to demonstrate it outwardly. This must be our mission as Christians.
In the second reading, the author discusses two manifestations of such a conviction. The first one is an ability to present and explain reasons for Christian hope, clearly hope for the resurrection of the body and eternal life. Christians must be able to provide a sound and convincing explanation for beliefs that they hold. This ability can only be developed by a Christian who has seriously reflected on his or her faith, and grounded it firmly in the Scripture and experience. Such a defence of faith must be done in a respectful and gentle manner, and not in the spirit of contention and hostility.
The second manifestation of the sanctification of Christ in a person’s heart is their outwardly visible ethical conduct, particularly when somebody is confronted with insults and slander. Early Christians frequently experienced adversity and opposition. The author admonishes them to behave impeccably so that they could not be accused of any wrongdoing. If they face persecution, their suffering should be that of innocents. Confronting harassment in such a manner they would imitate Christ himself, who suffered innocently. In doing so, Jesus died in the body, but remained very much alive in the spirit. Being alive in one’s heart, according to this passage, consists of a sound and profound understanding of the faith a Christian professes, and a clear conscience resulting from righteous living.
Perhaps the most outstanding feature of today’s extraordinarily rich Gospel passage is its presentation of the intimate link that exists between God, Jesus, the Spirit and the disciples. These persons are bound together by love. In this part of the Gospel, Jesus continues to speak about his departure. He assures the troubled disciples about his return; they will not be left orphans. But what form will this return take? He certainly hints at his coming at the end of times, the Parousia. But he speaks mainly about his return and eternal presence through the Spirit who will be sent by the Father in response to Jesus’ request.
This Spirit binds Jesus and the disciples in such a way that they will be able to contemplate the face of God through this union. The disciples need to respond to this presence with love, manifested through keeping Jesus’ commandments. However, in the Gospel of John, Jesus gave only a single commandment, “this is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you” (Cf. John 15:12). The love of Jesus flowing within the disciples must be expressed through acts of love towards others. Jesus’ love is a demanding love which can never be reduced to a sentimental feeling, or abstract admiration. Jesus demonstrated his love by going to the cross, and his subsequent resurrection proved that such love is capable of defeating death. Living out this kind of love, the disciples are assured of their own resurrection, because self-giving love amounts, already in this life, to the spiritual resurrection.
Christian Act in Word of God “Spiritual Resurrection”
As Christians, we need spiritual resurrection, not don’t’s and do’s, thus, “Christians go to Church on Sundays; they don’t go to parties, or take drugs or have fun”; “Some Christians think they are better than everyone else but they are hypocritical and judgmental”; and “Christians believe in Jesus Christ, celebrate Easter and Christmas and fight amongst themselves as they have so many different beliefs.” Generally, in the general populace, there seems to be more negative references to Christians than positive ones.
It is also important to ask Christians themselves to describe who they are, to explain and defend their beliefs.
Many Christians explain their faith through “do’s” and “don’ts”, and measure their status according to certain laws, for example attending weekly mass, giving to the poor, reciting the rosary, staying sexually pure, etc. It is no wonder that non-Christians describe us according to these “do’s” and “don’t’s”.
Too often, after catechism classes are finished, young adults limit their faith practice to following rules and certain practices, believing them sufficient. As life goes on, these young people face many pressures and challenges, which do not leave much space or time to engage in any meaningful practice of faith. As a result, when questioned about our faith or observed by outsiders, our Christianity looks shallow and insincere.
Many, after active participation in the life of their parish and youth groups, gradually drift away from the Church.
After a time, feeling spiritual emptiness they even join other Churches and sects which lure them with promises of benefits and with vibrant community life. All of this results from the lack of growth in faith.
Jesus came to restore the relationship between humanity and God.
A relationship may start with “do’s” and “don’ts” as is the case between parents and children, but that is not the goal.
Parents look forward to a time when they can enjoy adult relationships with their children, relationships that are not based on rules but mutual love. Similarly, in our Christian story, we are taught the rules and principles as the foundation of our faith so that as we grow in faith, we can develop a relationship with God where we are driven by love not rules. It is this relationship of love that transforms us into loving persons, who are able to share this relationship with others as part of the witness of our faith.
The world is tired of “do’s” and “don’ts”, many hunger for a relationship of love that is mutual and transforming. It was St Augustine who said “Love and do anything that you like” because he understood that love is the motivation and basis of an ethical life that pleases God. As Christians, let us grow in our Christian life and go beyond do and don’t.
Action: I will ask God for the grace to take the first step to a loving relationship with God as the basis of my Christian life. I will go beyond the do’s and don’t’s of Christian rules.
Prayer: Almighty Father, as your risen Son is among us, send your holy spirit to be us and make us good Christians. Help us not to be Christians of do’s and don’t’s but that we go beyond Christian rule and live a godly life. May we all have a spiritual resurrection to receive the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost day, we ask this through the risen Christ, Amen.
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