FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A
((Readings: 1st: Acts 6:1-7; Ps: 32; 2nd: 1 Pet 2:4-9; Gos: Jn 14:1-12))
Today being the 5th Sunday of Easter, we continue to celebrate the triumph of the risen Lord. Our liturgical readings describe to us the image of the Church of God. Peter compares this church to a building. The builder is God himself and the building materials are made up of living stones, the people. The building was begun by laying of the cornerstone, a strong foundation that God made for the whole building. This cornerstone is Jesus and the building began with his resurrection. God continued to lay other stones on this foundation and these are the apostles and those who have believed and were baptized. The foundation is sure and strong, the builder is perfect and therefore this house is safe. No matter how many catastrophes, earthquakes, scandals, or problems hit the church of God, it will always remain firm because her foundation which is the risen Lord is firm and strong.
For instance, in Acts of Apostles 6:1-7, a division arose in the early church. There was tension between the Hebrews and the Hellenists. The Greek-speaking widows complained that the Aramaic-speaking widows were given preferential treatment at the daily distribution of food. The struggle for materialism hit hard the stability of the first Christian community. However, this community survived these external forces because the foundation was strong and the builder was perfect. We are the church; the individuals in the family make up the modern church of God.
What are some of the qualities that we can learn from the early Church that made them stand still amidst challenges?
- HOLINESS
The first Christian community met often to pray and break the bread. Peter addresses these people as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people of God’s own. The Apostles dedicated themselves to the work of preaching the word of God. Proclaiming the word of God was central to their life. The holy spirit animated their life and this fortified the church. We also share the divine life of God; (a) by actively participating in the Eucharistic celebration and properly receiving the body and blood of Christ in the Holy Communion. b) By the worthy reception of the other sacraments. c) By the meditative and daily reading of the Word of God. d) By following the guidance of the life-giving Spirit of God, living within us. e) By communicating with God, the source of life, in personal and family prayers. We must not allow the care of the mundane and worries of this world to distract us from our basic call as Holy people as the disciples took precautions: “It will not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food…we will hand over this duty and devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word of God”. (Acts 6:3)
- A COMMUNITY OF SERVICE
Another factor that fortified the early Christian community was their unity, solidarity and service to the needy. People contributed together whatever they had and it was distributed fairly to the needy. This was a generous community and nobody lacked the basic needs. People admired them and God added to their numbers making the community grow tremendously. However, when the Apostles realized the work of distributing food to the needy was too much and causing confusion and division, they delegated this duty to seven men elected by people of good standing, full of the spirit and of wisdom, whom they appointed to the task of distributing the food (6:3). This is the root of diaconate ordination. We must not neglect or take for granted the social and material needs of our brothers and sisters.
- A COMMUNITY OF PROBLEM SOLVERS
The church is unfortunately built with weak blocks, sinners, and imperfect people. A division arose among the first Christians on the basis of materialism. However, the Apostles fixed it immediately by calling for a meeting in which they selected seven deacons to take over the task of food distribution. If the disciples had clanged to their power and authority, it would have collapsed the church. The development of hierarchical structures came to fix the problem at hand. In every community or family, disputes will always emerge because we are human. However, the secret of every community is the ability to develop interior structures to counter problems.
Finally, Jesus assures us today, his fellow priests, of a place in his kingdom. “Let not your hearts be troubled…there are many rooms in my fathers’ house…so that where I am you may be too.” This is a clear indication that by virtue of baptism, we are truly children of God and share in the priesthood and loyalty of Jesus Christ. In addition, Jesus tells us: “I am the way and the truth and the light (Via, veritas, Lucis). Therefore, if we follow him and fashion our priesthood and priestly life after his, we shall all be in where He is now.
In brief, as the church of God, we can not stand if we do not recognize the fact that Jesus is our foundation stone and without him, our struggles are in vain. Our journey is full of challenges and obstacles, but if we rely on the Grace of God in the sacraments, we shall all remain firm as the Church of God. May the word of God be the light to your feet and may the Eucharist strengthen you and grant you the grace you need on your heavenly journey. Amen
Prayer: May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you. Amen Ps 32:22
HAPPY EASTER!!! ((Contact our vocation office on +255629269140 or +254792299140))
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the word and the spirit of Grace; and may the heart of Jesus live in the heart of all the people. Amen” SVD Prayer
JAMBO KENTAN 
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