Fifth Sunday in Easter

May 6, 2012

Acts 9:26-31; Psalm 22; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8

                The early church's story focuses upon Paul's life as he is the pivotal founder of Gentile and Jewish communities. The Acts of the Apostles picks up Paul's story after he had his dramatic call on his way to Damascus. Paul is initially rejected by the disciples in Jerusalem because they disbelieved that he was truly one of them. Barnabas comes to his defense and brings him to the apostles and gives them first-hand testimony of Paul's faith. He recounts that Paul spoke boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus. After receiving assurances, the disciples accept Paul as one of their own.

          Paul moved freely throughout Jerusalem until he debated Hellenists about Christ's divinity. The Hellenists were so incensed at Paul's stance, they tried to kill him. Fearing for his safety, the disciples sent Paul to Tarsus where he could find relative peace and security. The church itself was at peace. It grew in numbers drawing new converts from every corner of the Mediterranean. It was being built up and grew in reverence of the Lord.

          John's Gospel pitches the image of Jesus as the vine and his disciples as the branches. The one who stays close to the heart of the person and teaching of Jesus will grow in holiness and will make the right moral choices. Belief is the key to remaining a disciple; we prove it by remaining faithful to what he teaches us. We have to be open enough to be pruned. It sounds like a good concept, but we forget there is pain in getting pruned. The parts of us that are growing in the wrong direction will be lopped off so we can grown in a new direction. This typically means that our will is being challenged by Jesus. We are told 'no' to an dimension in which we are growing and we are a people who do not like to be told 'no." This pruning, though it stings, will produce results that we like. We have to keep ourselves open to this painful procedure.

          The church today is unlike the times we read about in Acts. It is being pruned in ways that causes sharp pain and confusion. It is not at peace - either internally or with external forces. Forces in the hierarchy silence voices they do not want to hear. Others in the hierarchy are trying to establish reason and understanding. The way we treat one another is far different from the way the disciples treated Paul. Yes, they were cautious, but they learned about the man and his views. They came to know that Jesus Christ was alive and active in Paul. Once they suspended their fears, they warmly accepted him and gave him respect and freedom. We are sadly past the point of welcoming into our community "anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord." We can still learn from the early church that our hearts can still be open to the Lord, which might bring about a new paradigm with which we wrestle. This pruning of our own wills leads to our personal and community growth.

          Remaining close to Jesus is essential even for today. He has to be the interpreter of his teachings. Abiding by his commandments means that we know how to interpret them. Conservatives and progressives interpret teachings according to their experiences. They always have; they always will.  For each, certainty and truth are contained in the words of Jesus and various emphases will be placed on teachings that support their worldviews. Conflict will always exist, but so does the possibility of reverencing the other and welcoming them into our one community of faith. The church is large enough to hold many interpretations and emphases. The flourishing of the church depends upon the ways we show the charity of Christ to others.

         

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading: As Gentiles and Jews in Iconium were about to attack Paul and Barnabas, they fled to Lystra where Paul healed a lame man. The crowds began to put their faith in Paul and Barnabas as gods, but the men protested and told the story of the Christ event. Opposition to Paul arose shortly afterwards and he was stoned. They left for Derbe and strengthened the disciples in those cities and encouraged them during times of hardship. Some of Paul's Jewish opposition raised the question of circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic laws. Along the way to Jerusalem to seek the advice of the Apostles, they told everyone of the conversion of Gentiles. After much debate, Peter and James decided that no further restrictions are to be made of the Gentiles. The Apostles and presbyters were chosen to give news to Paul and Barnabas that the Gentiles were indeed welcomed into the faith with no extra hardships placed on them. The people were delighted with the news. Paul heard of a man named Timothy who was well-regarded by the believers.  Paul had him circumcised and they travelled to Macedonia to proclaim the good news.

Gospel: In The Farewell Discourse, Jesus reassures his disciples that he will remain with them if they keep his loving commandments. To punctuate his message, he tells them he will send an advocate to teach and remind them of all he told them. He leaves them his lasting peace that will help them endure many difficult times. This peace will allow us to remain close to him - we will be organically part of him as we are the branches and he is the vine. Remaining close to him will allow us to share complete joy with one another. Jesus once again proves his love to them by saying the true friend, that is, the Good Shepherd, will lay down his love for one's friends. However, even with the love of Jesus, we will experience hatred in this world, but as friends of Jesus and as God's elect, their harm can never really wound our souls.

Saints of the Week

May 10: Damien de Veuster of Moloka'i, priest (1840-1889), was a Belgian who entered the Congregation of the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He was sent on mission to the Hawaiian Islands and was a parish priest for nine years. He then volunteered as a chaplain to the remote leper colony of Moloka'i. He contracted leprosy and died at the colony. He is remembered for his brave choice to accept the mission and to bring respect and dignity to the lepers. He was canonized in 2009. A statue of him stands in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

May 12: Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs (early second century), were Roman Imperial soldiers who converted to Christianity. They left the army and were martyred when they refused to sacrifice to idols during Emperor Trajan's reign.

May 12: Pancras, martyr, (d. 304)was a Syrian orphan who was brought to Rome by his uncle. Both soon after converted to Christianity. Pancras was beheaded at age 14 during the Diocletian persecution and buried on the Via Aurelia. A cemetery was named after him, but his remains were sent to Northumbria in England where six churches are dedicated to him.

This Week in Jesuit History

·         May 6, 1816. Letter of John Adams to Thomas Jefferson mentioning the Jesuits. "If any congregation of men could merit eternal perdition on earth and in hell, it is the company of Loyola."

·         May 7, 1547. Letter of St. Ignatius to the scholastics at Coimbra on Religious Perfection.

·         May 8, 1853. The death of Jan Roothan, the 21st general of the Society, who promoted the central role of the Spiritual Exercises in the work of the Society after the restoration.

·         May 9, 1758. The 19th General Congregation opened, the last of the Old Society. It elected Lorenzo Ricci as general.

·         May 10 ,1773. Empress Maria Teresa of Austria changed her friendship for the Society into hatred, because she had been led to believe that a written confession of hers (found and printed by Protestants) had been divulged by the Jesuits.

·         May 11, 1824. St Regis Seminary opens in Florissant, Missouri, by Fr. Van Quickenborne. It was the first Roman Catholic school in USA for the higher education of Native American Indians

·         May 12,1981. A letter of this date, from Secretary of State, Cardinal Casaroli, speaks positively of Teilhard de Chardin in celebration of the centenary of his birth (May 1,1881).