5th Sunday of Easter
My dear parishioners,
God Is Good!!! All the Time!!! And All the Time!!! God Is Good!!!
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Church continues to grow in numbers. Luke spoke earlier of the remarkable generosity of the community of faith. They made their resources available for the less fortunate. Among these unfortunates were widows; they were especially vulnerable because they often had no other means of support.
Jesus continues his “farewell discourse” by making a strong connection between loving him and keeping his commandments. Throughout the passage, Jesus will use words such as commandments, word, and words. The reader should understand all these terms as synonyms. They represent the totality of what Jesus says and what he reveals about God.
Another advocate. One of the ways Jesus will maintain a presence in the world after he returns to the Father is by sending another advocate. The Greek term is parakletos, which is often translated as “paraclete.” Jesus specifies that he will send “another advocate,” indicating that he himself was the first one. This advocate plays a role similar to a defense attorney. He is a teacher who bears witness to Jesus and serves as a prosecutor of the world. He is the Spirit of truth whom the world will reject, but the disciples will accept him because they know him.
I will not leave you orphans. It is important for Jesus to reassure his disciples that they will not be left alone when he returns to the Father. One way that Jesus will be present will be in the form of the advocate. Another way is through his Resurrection. The world will not see this, but the disciples will. This new form of life will also be extended to the disciples. All this will result in the understanding, on the part of the disciples, of the divine mutuality that exists between God, Jesus, and the disciples. Jesus is in the Father, the disciples are in Jesus, and Jesus is in the disciples. This is how the disciples will share in the Father’s love.
Keep my commandments. Jesus makes it very clear that simply knowing his commandments is not enough. The commandments have to be observed and put into practice. This is how the disciples demonstrate their love for Jesus: by keeping his commandments. Those who love Jesus, and therefore keep his commandments, are also assured that they will be loved by God. In addition to this, Jesus will also love the disciples and, in this process, reveal himself to them. All of this is aimed at encouraging the disciples to understand that Jesus’ departure will, in fact, be a saving event that will benefit them all.
Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org. All rights reserved
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Aloysius