May 19, 2019

5th Sunday of Easter
Acts 14: 21-27; Revelation 21: 1-5; John 13: 31-35
How do I feel about going to Heaven? I hope every person responds ‘I feel good about that!’ No doubt many
do not feel that positive they might believe in the old saying, ‘I’m not worthy of Heaven, I just hope I can sneak
in the back door.’ There is no ‘back door’ to heaven. Jesus calls every person to Heaven, am I listening? The
Holy Spirit gives each person the desire, the gifts and the ability with the Spirit’s help to maintain a constant
living profile to Heaven. Am I listening and agreeing to follow God’s way? Do I believe that God loves each
individual that much that God wants each one in Heaven forever? Do I realize that it is about God’s love
helping me? I often say that I am a sinner; there is absolutely no doubt about that. I resonate with Paul’s words
to the Romans 7: 14-15, “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold into slavery to sin. What I do, I do not
understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.” I am a Sinner, AND I am a loved sinner, God loves me
always. And I am a redeemed sinner. This is why Jesus came to die for me and for each person. So I am a
loved redeemed sinner. I will have ups and downs, many of them. I am called to live with Heaven as my
home. How am I doing? Today’s readings give a solid path to follow.
Paul and Barnabas are completing their first missionary trip. They have been gone for two years. Instead of
blazing new paths they decide to retrace their steps encouraging the people who have accepted the Gospel
message of Jesus, the message of God’s love. They point out very concretely that the ministry of love is going
to be the most difficult task they will undergo; the same is true for us. Who wants to be nice…who doesn’t
enjoy holding some sort of grudge…who really wants to love those who hurt us or persecute us…who wants to
love their enemies? Paul and Barnabas “…strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in
the faith, saying, ‘It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” These words said it all:
many of these disciples had witnessed firsthand the angry response and even stoning by people in the
community. No one is going to tell ‘them’ what God is about…they do what they want to do…they ‘know it
all’. When people in these communities gathered, they shared the persecutions and difficulties they were
enduring for the faith. God was bringing in more and more gentiles to be witnesses and believers. Is my faith
just surface deep? Do I ‘give up’ or ‘give in’ when times get tough? God has done wonders in the lives of the
people Paul and Barnabas evangelized. God has done wonderful things in our lives. We have touched many
because we are loved and God gives us so many graces to get through the bad times which amazes us no end.
We have put ourselves in the hands of our Lord. We have let God be God to us. Do we take time to reflect on
this and to express our gratitude along with spending time in reflection?
The various visions John beheld on Patmos tell the story of the ‘final days’. (Rev 19: 11-18) A final battle (19:
19-21) will unseat Satan for all eternity (20: 1-3) Following the final (20: 1-15), God’s reign will be
experienced in its fullness (1: 1-8). Today’s passage many people have chosen to be read at funeral liturgies. It
looks at a question: How am I present to another? Often it is face to face. Yet it can be on the phone or in
countless media apps. We do this in a note or a letter or in pictures. In John’s Book of Revelation he uses the
‘new city of Jerusalem’ descending from the heavens, as a sign of the presence of the invisible God with people
on the other side of death. He promises us that the world of suffering and death is no more. It has been
replaced by a holy and new Jerusalem. A loud voice, God’s voice proclaims “Behold God’s dwelling is with the
human race…Behold, I make all things new.”
In John 13: 21, we hear of the announcement of Judas’ betrayal. Jesus was deeply troubled, “Amen, Amen, I say
to you, one of you will betray me.” The apostles were flabbergasted…who could do such a thing…they knew how
much each had given up and how they had learned to love and live Jesus’ words. They would follow Him to
‘the ends of the world.’ Jesus told John that It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” He handed
this to Judas and “Satan entered him.” Judas leaves, no one knows why and Jesus teaches His disciples a new
commandment: “love one another. As I have love you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that
you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” The point is…the basic question is we need to look at how
Jesus loved and how am I to love today? Love is practical…in the now…is that where I am loving? Sunday
Homily Helps by Mary Lynne, a mental health counselor offers “real people in real situations” to see how
concretely love is to be exercised:
1) Jesus’ love is unconditional:
“Mary’s husband Tom was an abusive alcoholic. To protect herself and her children they divorced. Tom
continued on his downward path. When his alcoholism destroyed his liver and he was down and out and
needed, Mary cared for him until he died. Like Jesus’ love, hers was unconditional.
2) Jesus’ love was sacrificial
“When Kay learned that her brother-in-law needed a kidney, she agreed to be tested. She was a match.
Despite the fact that she had three young children, she donated her kidney to save his life.” Like Jesus’ love
hers was unconditional.
3) Jesus’ loved social outcasts as well as the rich leaders.
“Beth passed by a homeless man every evening. One day she stopped and asked him what he needed. Wise or
not, she brought him home, bought him warm clothes and got a state ID for him. He returned to the streets with
hope and means to live on. Beth and her family helped someone whom others had rejected.” Like Jesus’ love
theirs did not discriminate.
4) Jesus’ treated all as equals
“Joseph was six when he ran ahead of his parents while touring Baltimore’s harbor. When they caught up
with him, he was sitting on a stoop chatting with a homeless, toothless man. Both were smiling.” Like Jesus,
Joseph not only treated this man as an equal, he truly believed they were equals.
5) Jesus’ love was compassionate
“Jim and Don are retired but spend three days a week working at an inner-city parish food pantry. They stock
shelves and distribute food to needy families.” Like Jesus’ love, theirs is compassionate.
6) Jesus sometimes broke the letter of the law to follow the law of love.
In 1963, Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and sent to jail for protesting the treatment of blacks in
Birmingham, Alabama.” Like Jesus, he broke the law and paid the price for a higher cause.
Each of us is called to live Jesus’ command of love…all the time…when convenient…when inconvenient…This
is what love is all about.
Sacred Space 2019 states
“Judas had ‘gone out.’ Lord, may I never go away from You. May no human being be lost to You. Everyone is a brother
or sister for whom You died, as St. Paul says. Let me become more like You by loving everyone and commending them to
You. Stretch my heart till all my fellow humans are gathered in.
‘O, that my monk’s robe were wide enough to gather up the suffering people of this floating world.’ (Ryokan, a Zen monk
who died in 1831)”