Acts 14:21-27; Ps 144 (145), Ap 21:1-5; Jn 13:31-33,34-35
The New Way
Dear friends, today is the fifth Sunday of Easter. We have three more weeks left in this Easter season. However, every Sunday is Easter Sunday, whereby we relive the mystery of our salvation. Today’s readings invite us to reflect upon the concept of “new”. Paul and Barnabas brought new teachings to the people of Antioch. Some were excited upon receiving the new teachings, but others became jealous and violent towards them. New things have something that attracts us. However, not everyone is ready to embrace what is new. This is because “new” involves change and transformation, and not everyone wants to change or transform. The concept of renewal and renovation is common among all cultures. When things become old and ugly, we renovate them to give them a “New look”, or discard them for new ones.
The Kingdom of God that Jesus preached was something new to the people of his time. When we are waiting for something new, we are full of expectations and desires. “I would like it to be like this or like that”. Every election year, for instance, the electorate expects something new and better. Unfortunately, most of the time, those expectations are frustrated because the newly elected leaders do not deliver on their promises. Heralded by John the Baptist, everyone braced for the new messiah and was anxious to know what they needed to do to form part of the new era. However, after getting to know the real content of the Kingdom that Jesus brought, we are told that many fell behind and no longer followed him (Jn 6:66). They were afraid of changing their old ways and opted to stay away from Jesus, who kept insisting on repentance and change of heart. Are you afraid of letting go of the bad old habits?
In the first reading, we hear about how God continued to open the door of his Kingdom to the non-Jews through the work of Paul and Barnabas. This was something that many of the Jewish converts found difficult to embrace (Acts 13). There arose a confrontation about accepting non-Jews to the new faith that led to the first council of the disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 15). In our communities, we sometimes find it difficult to welcome new members who are not from our region, race, or tribe. We lock people out of the Church of God and claim to be followers of Jesus. It is interesting to note that there are some Christian denominations whose members are from only one region or tribe. Most of the time, these denominations are nothing more than a perpetuation of their own traditions and customs. They want to make Jesus become one of them instead of them becoming like Jesus. Do you think that Jesus should be like you, or you should be like Him?
In my mission, I have more than 5000 baptized people. However, many of these continue practicing old traditions that contradict the Gospel Values, such as polygamy, child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation, discrimination against women, youth, and Children by men. This happened because there was insufficient or no instruction about Christian values at the time of their baptism. There are also Christian denominations founded in the area that embrace these traditions, and many are flocking there. In other places, we have many baptized who are still stuck in the culture of corruption, nepotism, imperialism, jealousy, hatred, negative competition, greed, selfishness, sloth, and many others. This prevents them from enjoying the climate of the new city, the Kingdom of God.
In the second reading, St. John talks about a new heaven and a new earth that replaces the old ones. He says it was as beautiful as a bride dressed for her husband. This is where God lives with his people (Emmanuel). In this city, there will be no more tears for those who live in it. This is the Church and the Christian communities where the members love and console one another, looking forward to the glory of resurrection in heaven.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus emphasizes the commandment of Love, “Love one another as I have loved you”. We are told that he said this after Judas had left. There is no betrayal, jealousy, or hatred in a community where love reigns. Love is the greatest value that should visibly distinguish between those who belong to the Kingdom of God and those who do not. “This way, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another”. Do you really love others as yourself? Really?
Love begets other good values that build up a healthy community, such as Justice, peace, tolerance, forgiveness, accountability, a sense of responsibility, and respect, among others.
Dear friends, today I invite us to reflect upon our ways as the citizens of the new city, the Kingdom of God. As baptized persons, do we live the values of the Kingdom of God in such a way that attracts those who surround us, or do we make them shake their heads in disgust at our conduct? Whose benefit is it if you embrace good values?
Have a blessed Sunday
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 