Sixth Sunday of Easter / Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
The Acts of the Apostles again provides the first reading for a weekend Mass in the Easter season.
As it grew, Christianity expanded beyond its original base of Jews in the Holy Land to include gentiles. Diversity was a characteristic early in the growth of the Church.
This increasingly multi-cultural nature of the Church, however, presented problems which are evident in this weekend’s reading.
A dispute arose and the Apostles had to resolve it. It came precisely because new gentile converts presented a dilemma. Were they required to observe the religious practices of Judaism? After all, Jesus was a Jew. All the Apostles were Jews. None had repudiated Moses, who gave them these requirements.
Thus came the argument about circumcision, the ancient and required ritual followed in Judaism for Jewish males even to this day. Evidently, some Christians were demanding that converts from paganism submit themselves to this ritual.
The question was sent to Jerusalem for review by the Apostles. It is important in understanding the role of the Church to note that these questions were not settled at the local level. The Apostles were sought for resolution. St. Paul and St. Barnabas went to them from Antioch in present-day Syria.
Although Paul himself was an Apostle, he and Barnabas looked to the body of Apostles for an answer. Together the Apostles embodied the authority of Christ.
Replying, the Apostles called the gentile Christians “brothers” (Acts 15:23).
They defined what should or should not be done in discipleship and in practical considerations of life, basing their decision on their own authority, conferred upon them by the Lord.
The Book of Revelation furnishes the second reading. This reading is poetic and highly symbolic. The city mentioned, of course, is heaven, but called the “holy city Jerusalem” (Rev 21:10). This heavenly city awaits all who love God. On each of its four sides are three gates, open and available to anyone wanting entry.
At the time of the writing of Revelation, “3” was seen as a perfect number. The four sides refer to the four corners of the Earth. In other words, everyone is welcome.
The names of the twelve tribes of Israel appear on the city’s walls, another symbol to say that salvation is offered to all. No tribe is excluded.
St. John’s Gospel gives this weekend the third eloquent reading. It makes three points.
Jesus calls upon the disciples to love each other. It will not be easy for them, or for anyone, all the time. The Lord knew that. But such is the only way ultimately to be with God. The Holy Spirit will assist and strengthen.
Finally, peace will be with those who truly love God. Peace is not simply an absence of conflict, or necessarily involving only societies or nations. It is an experience of the reassuring presence of God.
Reflection
The Church is directing us to Pentecost, but it is far from merely pointing us to an anniversary. The Church is telling us that, if we truly accept Jesus, God will be with us in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
This means that our hearts will be enriched by the Holy Spirit’s gifts. Seeing life clearly, and thereby emboldened, we will understand events. We will judge wisely and know what others may find obscure or bewildering. We will be pious, and, in a holy sense, we will fear God, because we will realize his might and his over-powering mercy.
The route to obtaining these gifts is a voluntary commitment to Christ and allowing Jesus to illumine each step of our personal path. As we look ahead to Pentecost, the Church calls us to strong faith. Without Jesus, we stumble and wander. With Jesus, enriched by the Holy Spirit’s gifts, we walk confidently ahead. †