Sixth Sunday of Easter (C)

May 26, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29

Psalm: 67 “O God, let all the nations praise you.”

Second Reading: Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23

Gospel reading according to John 14: 23-29

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Homily

A true disciple/follower of Jesus listens to his word, keeps it in his/her heart, and does it.  “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and makes our dwelling with him’.” (John 14: 23).  Every word that comes from the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ must be kept in our hearts and minds like precious jewel/pearl or expensive treasure.  When we keep his word and translate it into action, we show to him how much we love him.  In keeping and preserving his word in our memory, and in our heart, we love Jesus.  While Jesus promised us also that God the Almighty will also show his love to us as a Father and Provider, and God is always with us. The God, our loving Father and at the same time Jesus himself will come and dwell in our hearts and minds, in our hands and feet, in every part of our body, in our whole being.

While those disciples who do not keep his word, although they are disciples/followers of him but in name only and not in truth do not love him.  “’Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me’.” (John 14: 24). They listen to the word of Jesus in one ear but pass it out on the other ear. It does not remain in their hearts and mind, and they do not do it.  They do not even put it in practice nor share it with others.  They just throw it away and trample under foot. They do not mind it, as if it is just an ordinary thing, without value.  This means they do not love him for they do not keep his word in their hearts and in their mind, Nevertheless, all the words that comes from the mouth of Jesus is originated and emanated from God the Father who sent him to us to teach us.  Jesus told us everything that came from God the Father for our good and salvation.  We do not love Jesus and God the merciful Father if we do not keep in our hearts and minds what Jesus said and/or told us regarding the goodness and love of the Father towards us, which we called the good news (or gospel)..

Jesus is saying this word while he is still in their company, with his disciples so that they may remember or be reminded that he said/told this so.  “’I have told you this while I am with you’.” (John 14: 25).  While Jesus is with them, he told them all this important saying/word so that they can handle all trials, struggles, tribulations, and “mga pagsubok sa buhay at pananampalataya,” when he left them.  Jesus does not want to leave his disciples full of sorrows and wants, and of lots of questions about the life, word, works and action, and even death of him.  He does not want to abandon his disciples empty handed.  At least he leaves them with something that makes their faith strong and complete.

Before he left, he told his disciples about the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit coming to them.  “’The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name, he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you’.” (John 14: 26).  In his name, God the Father will send the Holy Spirit to remind them about the word (and actions) of Jesus, the Christ.  This Holy Spirit will teach them everything, seen and unseen, material and immaterial, visible and invisible, especially the good news.  The Holy Spirit will help them remember all the things that Jesus said and done and to be their guide in their new way of life to face.  The Holy Spirit will become their strength and courage in proclaiming the good news Jesus told them to the places they will go and visit and preach.   

He told them also how to greet others, with peace, and sharing the love they received from him.  “’Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid’.” (John 14: 27). Before he left, he bequeathed them peace.  He gave them peace which the world cannot totally give in its full meaning.  Only in Jesus we can find true and lasting peace – tranquility.  The peace of this world is with no absence of war.  This peace we received from Jesus makes us calm and quiet, serene and still interiorly and exteriorly.  Our hearts are in peace, untroubled and unafraid even in the midst of danger and turmoil, but full of trust and confidence, for this peace comes from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace.

Again, he returned to what he told him to the Jews, that he is about to go and leave them.  “’You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’  If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I’.” (John 14: 28).  He told them that they heard him said that he is going away from them, nevertheless he guaranteed them also that he will come back, in his glory and majesty.  The more we have to rejoice when he leaves us and goes back to his Father to give glory to his Father and the Father will give also glory to his Son, Jesus Christ.  And the Father who gives glory will also glorify us through his Son, Jesus the Christ.

In advance, Jesus told his disciples what will happen to them when he leaves them and comes back to his Father.  “’And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe’.” (John 14: 29).  He did not keep any secret to them but rather revealed to them and to us the splendor of his leaving through – his passion, death and resurrection, and ascension to heaven to where His Father was, is, and will be forever and ever so that our belief in him makes deeper; “we will come to him (disciple/to us) and makes our dwelling with him” (cf. John 14: 23).  Also, upon his leaving and coming back, “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in his name, he will teach us everything and remind us of all that he told us” (cf. John 14: 26), until the end of time.