21/05/2006 - 6th SUNDAY OF EASTER - Year B
First Reading Acts 10:25-26; 34-35; 44-48 Psalm 97/96
Second Reading 1John 4:7-10 Gospel John 15:9-17
You shall not steal. The Fifth Commandment is short; yet, binds much of our
thoughts and our heart! God wants us to understand that He does not give us
permission to undo what He did: He gave all His love by creating man, He gave
man life, He made him His collaborator; better yet, He gave him His image, and
cannot bear to support our destruction of His precious works! You cannot take
away the life of God's handiwork! Some will take these words literally, and
maintain that God only wants us to avoid creating death; but Jesus taught us
to listen in a much more profound and complete way. "You have heard that
it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and whoever murders
shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a
brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother
or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,"
you will liable to the hell of fire." (Mt 5:21-22). Do not ruin anyone's
life: not physically, not psychologically,
not spiritually! If you use words of rejection and contempt, you are already
causing death! If you get angry with anyone, it means that you attribute that
person to be of less value than something, or some project, of yours. In reality,
Jesus would tell you to give life, to make life better for everyone, small and
great, by serving them! "But whoever wishes to be great among you must
be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave"
(Mt 20:26). However, men are inclined to be selfish and tend to do whatever
it takes, so that others satisfy their own selfishness. In so doing, they are
not even aware that they are killing!
The principal theme of today's Readings is love. Jesus initiates a brief conversation
with the disciples so He can describe true love, the "substance",
one might say, of the life of a real, complete man; the one which God thought
to have created and who, was later, deformed by sin.
The time in which Matthew is talking about is the Last Supper. Jesus makes us
aware to observe the behaviour of the Father, knowing that we are shrouded by
His love. Jesus already knows the love that the Father promised and gave him,
and that it will be fulfilled with His rising from the dead. The disciples can
only think about what they have seen, of the wonders of the love shown in the
life of Jesus: the Father loved Him so much so as to allow Him to fulfill many
great and marvellous signs! From His Father, He learned to love his friends
freely, without measuring the cost. How did He love them? He treated them as
friends: He, so great; they, so small, insignificant and even more selfish!
He told them of the most precious gifts, confidences which He received from
the Father! Jesus loved the disciples, and He loves us, by offering His own
life and putting it at our disposal. And we know what this cost Him!
Now He makes recommendations to the disciples, whom He is preparing for the
last time: they must "abide" in His love so as to "love one another",
by following and re-living His example. "Abide in my love"! Jesus
recommends because He cares for each of the disciples, a recommendation which
can be read in two ways: let yourselves be cared by me, let yourselves be warmed
only by the warmth which comes from me, treasure my teachings; but also: love
only me, do not give your heart to anyone else, focus only on me. This is so
that not only can we saved, but also so that our life may be useful, and that
joy, that deep joy in our hearts, may live in us.
The letter of John echoes the teachings of Jesus. He, too, speaks of love; better
yet, of the love of God. If God is love, and if God is our Father, are we not
made from love, as well? Those who see us, should see nothing but love! The
love which should be seen in us should be none other than the love of God! True
love is not that which we feel and think, but the love which God showed us and
gave us through His Son! So, it is important that we observe it, that we allow
our eyes to be filled by the examples of the love of the Father. This is why
the Scriptures are needed but, above all, the life of Jesus, who embodies the
fullness of the love of the Father for each person and for all humanity!
Peter, upon entering in the house of Cornelius, the centurion, is careful to
keep his glance on the love of God. It is because of this that he is able to
win over the cultural and religious resistances, and to speak of Jesus to the
pagans who had come together. By observing the love of the Father, the Apostle
was able to love those whom he would, otherwise, never have come close to. He
loves them by speaking to them of the Lord, Jesus, and then welcoming them in
the holy communion of the Church through Baptism. In so doing, the union of
Peter with his Lord and Master bears fruit, fruit of peace and holiness, fruit
which gives glory to God and brightens all believers!
I, too, will try to "see" the love of God around me, in the coming
days!