A Homily – The Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year C)

First Reading - Acts 14:21-27 ©

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 144(145):8-13a ©

Second Reading - Apocalypse 21:1-5 ©

Gospel Acclamation – John 13:34

The Gospel According to John 13:31-35 ©

 

(NJB)

Listen!

Everything the apostles accomplished after the death of Jesus, they did by their own design. We know that this is true because God does not intervene in our lives, our social institutions or in any other way; God has made each of us and the entire creation free.

Praise God for creating the universe in freedom, for filling it with innumerable possibilities, and its countless which ultimately included the reality of our own existence.

Now be mindful of this:

We all experience hardship in life, such is the nature of being and being human is no exception to this rule; with that being said it should also be understood that hardship is not a requirement for living in the way. We are not required to endure hardship before we see the face of God, even though it is virtually certain that we will.

Know this.

God is the creator of the universe, present in all times and places; including the deepest places of the human heart.

God only issues an indirect influence over the created order.

Contemplate the vast power of the divine and its humble manifestation in the person of Jesus as the archetype of love and mercy, and know that the psalmist is mistaken when he calls God a king.

Consider the Gospel reading for today, which tells us that as the end of all things there is God, the creator of the universe. God’s temple is in the heart of every person…enter into the another’s heart and allow them to enter yours; there you will worship God, together as one.

 Remember.

 Everyone of God’s children has their name written in the book of life. God promises to make the whole of creation new; the past will be reconciled to the divine plan. There will be no mourning and no sadness, God’s own hand shall bring relief to everyone.

 Forget the apocryphal imagery and mythological symbolism of the “Son of Man,” forget the cryptic words about the glory of God; in whom and how it appears; forget those things because they are irrelevant. Do as Jesus commanded…love one another; this is the purpose for which we were made.

 To follow Jesus is to lead with love, to love as Jesus loved, to be caring, compassionate and considerate, to be merciful and just.

 Be prepared to risk everything for the sake of love, even your life; in this way you will be true to Jesus, and everyone will see the truth of that.

 This is the way, there is no other.

 Faith (which is the trust we place in God), faith is not about the words read and preach, it is about the things we do, faith is love in action. It is not ideological, it is not partisan, it is not dogmatic, it is not doctrinaire. Faith is not concerned with creeds or secrets, or magic words. The expression of faith is not a legally binding agreement.

 Faith is trust in a loving Gode, which we express most clearly through loving service to one another.

 

First Reading - Acts 14:21-27 ©

They Gave an Account to the Church of all that God Had Done with Them

Paul and Barnabas went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans.

 

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 144(145):8-13a ©

Alleluia!

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,

  slow to anger, abounding in love.

How good is the Lord to all,

  compassionate to all his creatures.

Alleluia!

All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,

  and your friends shall repeat their blessing.

They shall speak of the glory of your reign

  and declare your might, O God,

to make known to men your mighty deeds

  and the glorious splendour of your reign.

Alleluia!

Yours is an everlasting kingdom;

  your rule lasts from age to age.

Alleluia!

 

Second Reading - Apocalypse 21:1-5 ©

A Vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, ‘You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.’

Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new.’

 

Gospel Acclamation – John 13:34

Alleluia, alleluia!

I give you a new commandment:

Love one another just as I have loved you, says the Lord.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to John 13:31-35 ©

In the Son of Man, God Has Been Glorified

When Judas had gone Jesus said:

‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified.

If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon.

‘My little children, I shall not be with you much longer.

I give you a new commandment:

Love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another.

By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.’

 

A Homily – The Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year C)