Pastor's Letter 20230514 - 14 May 2023 - Diversity in Unity

Father Michael · May 14, 2023

May 14^th, 2023

Sixth Sunday of Easter

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The Father Sends the Advocate

A Message from Father ^†Michael

Today’s Theme: “Diversity in Unity”

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

(Acts 8:5-17) We learn about the joy and enthusiasm with which the Samaritans received the Gospel. Cooperation between charismatic and administrative elements within the Church is an unbeatable combination. Healing ministries and acts of power were integral to the ministry of the early Church.

Overcoming centuries-old prejudices and accommodating their cultural differences, Jesus’ attitude toward the Samaritans was one of acceptance and love. The disciples, beginning with ^†Philip, mirrored this acceptance after Jesus’ resurrection, and brought them into the “fold,” a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit, helping them to bridge human differences.

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(1 Peter 3:15-18) The author of 1st Peter encourages Christians to remain steadfast under pressure in their attachment to Christ. All who love Jesus, who have been saved by His suffering and death, are called to glorify Him in great and small miracles of service. Just as we unite our struggles to the Lord, so we will share in His glory.

This Reading reminds us of Isaiah’s “suffering servant,” whose silent innocence spoke volumes about injustice, and the power of self-effacing love in response to persecution. It also brings to mind ^†Paul’s advice to the Romans, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him…by doing this you will heap burning coals upon his head and the Lord will reward you” (Romans 12:20.)

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(John 14: 15-21) If we truly Love Christ, we must listen to His words, and put them into practice in our lives. As promised, Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to His followers to empower them continue His work and do similar deeds. “Keeping the law” can be raised from the level of mere legality when the heart is motivated by love.

The Holy Spirit was for the Johannine community (ca. 90s A.D.,) what the historical Jesus had been for His disciples, during His earthly ministry. Like Him, the Paraclete was the way, through which the believer discovers the “way” to the Father. Jesus’ words, “If you love Me…” reveal an identification with the God the Father of the Old Testament, and an affirm of the right attitude toward law and life—one of “love,” not solely obedience. Through the experience with Holy Spirit, believers of every age can come to know and love both Jesus, and the Father.

Jesus’ Commandments: Love and Obedience

The first Christians were an amalgam of people, from many walks of life: There were Jews, who put aside ancient creeds of a vengeful God and accepted a loving Jesus as their Messiah to become His followers; Gnostics renounced their innate “need to know” through their human senses, acquiesced to having faith to lead them; and pagans, who abandoned their “many gods,” recognized the One, True God and Father, through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All this diversity was unified in their adoption of His doctrine of love and obedience. Through their resolute spirit, they combined their perspectives to form new Church, developing and thriving in spite of persecution.

As Christians, we do not follow another set of commandments in place of the familiar “ten,” but another way of life. We can’t really call ourselves “disciples,” and wouldn’t be very good Christians, if we don’t listen to Jesus’ words, and make an effort to live by them.

But we must be clear about one thing: We don’t keep Jesus’ commandments so that He will love us; we keep them BECAUSE He love us. It was He Who first loved the apostles, and He did so, unconditionally.

Human beings recognize that our greatest need is to be loved, unqualifiedly. Nonetheless, it is difficult for us to believe that is how God loves us. We tend to believe God will only love us when we are “good.” But that is backwards! God loves us because HE is good. Our very existence is a sign of God’s unconditional love. That’s the Good News in a “nutshell.” Our response is to try to return that love….

Jesus knew the Father loved Him, and He responded by loving the Father, by His obedience. We show our love for God in the same way—by listening to His Word and putting it into action. To love is to obey and to obey is to love (1 John 5:1-3.)

Some people proclaim their love for Jesus in words, but deny Him by their way of life. But true love is shown by what we DO, not by what we say.

It’s never been easy to live as a disciple of Jesus. So, when we have difficulty, our first recourse should be to confide in the Holy Spirit, dwelling within our immortal soul. For some, this takes the form of prayer. For others, it happens through mediation. Still others find solace in a quiet place, surrounded by the wonders of nature. It’s at such times when the Holy Spirit can do His best work—bringing us comfort to sooth our sorrow; enlightenment in times of confusion; and courage when we are weak.

Jesus called the Holy Spirit, our “Advocate.” That’s a legal term for one who supports a defendant at a trial. Just so, the Holy Spirit is our defender. When we suffer for doing the right thing, knowing our cause is just, He will give us the strength to withstand criticism and rejection.

There’s no mistaking true love. You can feel it in your heart of hearts—like a flame warming your soul, energizing your spirit, and supplying passion to your life. Love is our connection to God, and to each other. Love is the “climate” in which every good Christian lives.

Taking “Leave”

It’s never easy to part from friends. But some separations are more difficult than others. The most painful parting happens with someone close to us dies, because of is “finality.”

Jesus’ speech to the apostles at the Last Supper about His leaving wasn’t typical. Rather than being “life ending,” He spoke of it as “Going to the Father.” He did, indeed, leave them, but there are degrees of leaving.

Abandonment is one kind of leaving. We read, sadly, about babies being abandoned by their parents at birth. Such a thing is most painful and damaging, particularly in the case of the very young, or the very elderly. But Jesus didn’t abandon His apostles….

Rejection is another kind of leaving. We relate to this when we hear of someone who suddenly rejects their fiancée for another. Although extremely painful, emotionally, we are not dealing with this. Jesus didn’t reject His apostles….

Sometimes, leaving is necessary for the good of the one leaving. We see this in the case of a person leaving to return home, or leaving to take a better job somewhere else. This is certainly true in Jesus’ case—He was returning to His Father…to go to honor and glory.

Finally, there is a leaving, which is for the good not only of the one leaving, but also of those left behind. This is the full truth of what happened. Jesus’ leaving was for the good of the apostles, too. His departure would not leave them unsupported and unguided as they had feared. He said: “I will not leave you orphans.” Even as He spoke about leaving them, Jesus told them He would be coming back through the Holy Spirit. They encountered Him after the resurrection, as the Gospels attest. And even though, after the Ascension, they did not see Him again, He assured them He would still be with them, even to the end of time.

Jesus did not leave us orphaned or desolate. By our faith we are able to “see Him.” Through our obedience to His commandments, we are drawn into a loving communion with Him. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we have the same access to Jesus as did the first Christians—not as a vague memory of a person who lived long ago, but as a real, life-giving presence that transforms us.

Nowhere do we feel closer to Him than when we receive Him in the Holy Eucharist. Then we are not simply “in communication” with Him, but in “full unity” with Him—a Holy Communion. (Catholics will remember the special “closeness” to Jesus they felt when they received their “First Holy Communion,” as children, or as converts to the faith.) Within this precious sacrament, Jesus nourishes our hearts with the food of the Holy Eucharist, which gives us the strength to do His will and live as His disciples.

May God Richly Bless You!