Homily Fifth Sunday of Easter Year B Intimacy
HOMILY FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR B
Reading
1: Background. In Jerusalem, Saul was
known as the one who concurred and sanctioned the death of Stephen the first
martyr. It was also known that he had received letters from the Sanhedrin with
authority to go to Damascus and arrest any Christians he would find. He had
already arrested some in Jerusalem.
What
they didn’t know was that Saul had a conversion experience on the road to
Damascus. He had a vision of Jesus, was baptized and began to proclaim Jesus as
Lord and Messiah. It is no wonder that the Apostles and leaders were disturbed
and cautious when they heard he had returned to Jerusalem. What confused them
the most was that this Saul was proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah. It was natural for them to fear that this was
a ruse.
Barnabas,
who had heard Saul teaching publicly, was convinced that he was for real. It
was Barnabas that convinced the Christians in Jerusalem to trust what God had
done in Saul’s life.
The
boldness of Saul was the continuation of the boldness of Stephen. As a result,
Saul’s life, like Stephen’s, was threatened. It was necessary to get him out of
town, less a new persecution would erupt.
What
do we learn? Nothing is impossible for God. Even the strongest opponent can
become just as strong proponent by the power of God. In Saul’s conversion we
also have validated the statement that sometimes converts are stronger in their
faith than cradle Catholics. Thirdly, each of us is called like Saul to follow
the lead of the Holy Spirit, come to a deeper conversion, and become a
proponent of the truth of the Gospel in spite of the threat of persecution. We
are facing subtle persecution today and we need to be bold in professing our
faith.
Reading
2: This reading makes the connection with today’s Gospel. First of all, what is
the great commandment, which should distinguish us as Christians? Love. “By
this they will know that you are my disciples—by the love you have for one
another.” How do we know if Jesus has
made a difference in our lives? Love. John says that our love is to be
authentic and visible, in deeds and actions, not just in words.
If
we love this way, we remain in Christ and he in us. There is a major difference
between with and in. With expresses some relationship with a person. In
expresses an intimate union with that person. Belief in Jesus, commitment and
love of him and others are essential to this intimate relationship with
God. At the center of this intimate
relationship is the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us and is with us. In this way
we please God and never alone.
Gospel:
Jesus expressed the intimacy he desires with us by the parable of the vine and
the branches. The life of the branch is maintained as long as the branch is
attached to the vine. It bears fruit as a result of the life flowing in it from
the vine. But if it is cut off and separated, it withers and dies. The branches are pruned and trimmed to enable
them to grow and bear more fruit. Cutting the branch off the vine destroys it; pruning
it strengthens it.
How
can we conceive intimacy with God? I can see the effect of human living. I
breathe, move, think, feel, etc. Do I see the effects of my life with Christ? I
can act humanly and I can act in Christ. I can choose out of selfishness or I
can choose out of love for Christ. I can live by his word, by loving in deed
and in truth or to live apart from his word. It is the difference between
intimacy and separation.
Because
of the intimacy and union we can ask God for whatever we want because we will
be asking according to the will of God. As someone has said, the lover desires
what the beloved desires. That is the reflection of the depth of real intimacy
and union. What is the fruit that God seeks in us? Love. Love is responded to
with love for God and love for others out of love for God. What does this life
of love, not in words but in deeds, bring about? Harmony and unity, being one
mind and one heart.
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