Homily
Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C
Reading
1: As the Word of God through the ministry of Paul and Barnabas spread among
the Gentiles who are baptized, some of the Judaizers came from Jerusalem and
began to sow doubt in the community of believers concerning the authenticity of
Paul’s ministry. These Judaizers insisted that the Gentiles need to be circumcised
and follow the Mosaic laws to be saved.
Not
knowing who was right, the community decided to send Paul and Barnabas with
others to Jerusalem to the Apostles for clarification. This is the initial
awareness of the authority of the Apostles over the life and teaching of the
Church.
After
hearing about how God blessed the ministry of Paul and Barnabas to the Gentiles
with signs and wonders, the apostolic leadership made a profound statement and
decision. First of all, they said: “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and
us.” In other words, after prayer and much discussion The Holy Spirit inspired
them with the answer. This fulfills what Jesus taught the Apostles at the Last
Supper: “I will send you the Holy Spirit. He will teach and guide you to the
truth.” We will come back to this in the Gospel.
What
was the truth? That baptism not circumcision was necessary for salvation.
Following the Mosaic Law was not required any longer. The only requirement was
the turning away from their former pagan practices. What will happen if we
followed the practice of the Apostles, namely invoking and following the
guidance of the Holy Spirit in major decisions?
Reading
2: During this post Resurrection times the Church keeps before us the life that
God invites us to enter into now and after death. She presents to us another
vision of life in heaven. The image of the new, holy city of Jerusalem is the
image of the exultant and victorious Church, the bride of Christ in all its
beauty and perfection in eternity. We are that Church now and are called to be
in eternity.
The
Church is built upon the faithful people of the Old Testament, the prophets,
the Apostles and all the baptized who have washed their robes in the blood of
the Lamb in baptism and the sacrament of Reconciliation. In the center of this is the Father and Jesus,
the Lamb, whose glorified life is the light of the city.
Gospel:
We continue to read John’s narrative of the Last Supper in which Jesus gave a
number of teachings as part of his last will and testimony. He speaks
repeatedly of the centrality of love as a sign of our union with him and as a
sign of our discipleship. He speaks of the need to keep his word because we
love him. He teaches us the parable of the vine and the branches, reminding us
that the Father loves us and as we love and keep his word, God will dwell in us
and we in him.
In
today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches what later the Apostles will better understand
and act upon. The Father and the Son will send the Holy Spirit. As our
Advocate, helper, and intercessor, the Spirit will teach us everything
concerning the truth revealed by God. Then Jesus reminds them that the peace he
gives them is not a greeting but the fruit of salvation which brings life.
He
tells them he is going away but will come back. He is referring not only to his
upcoming death and resurrection, but also to his ascension and his second
coming in glory.
His
final teaching in the reading deals with the mystery of his Incarnation, being
both God and Man. As God, he is one with the Father. In his humanity, the
Father is greater than him, because for a time he emptied himself of his
divinity in order to embrace our humanity and do the will of the Father, even
to the death on the cross. It is only after the Resurrection and Pentecost and
the ensuing years that the Church began to unpack these mysteries and acknowledge
them fulfilled.
