5th Sunday of Easter: 28.04.2013
Behold I make all things new!
The
times are bad; there is evil every where.
Why
is there so much of killings and violence; war and terrorism; where is humanity
going today?
Bomb
blasts, terrorist attacks, political unrest and threats of nuclear war – what is
brewing in today’s world?
Poverty,
misery, hunger and starvation – is it true that the world does not have enough
for all?
These
have become common starters for a discussion today!
Dear
brothers and sisters,
The
Second reading today tells us, ‘He will dwell with them and they shall be his
people’… As people of God, what is our responsibility? It is to listen and
believe in the words the Lord says today – Behold I make all things new! We
cannot give into desperation! No, we cannot!
“Never
lose hope, Do not let yourself be robbed of hope!” cries our beloved holy
father, Pope Francis. Yes, our call is to assist the Creator to make all things
new – to behold a new heaven and a new earth!
The
Liturgy today presents to us the invitation, the challenge to assist at the
creation of this new heaven and new earth amidst the cries of agony and apathy.
Not only does it beckon us to the task, but outlines the way to accomplish the
task – a line of action with three key elements: Primacy of God, Care of the
least and the Commandment of Love.
The
First reading offers a compelling example - the
first community of disciples, existed for the gospel and lived in faith, in a
spirit of prayer and fasting! Their life was a testimony to the marvels that
God accomplished every day in and through their lives, because they live
constantly in the presence of God. The primacy of God is in crisis today – and that
explains the whole lot of tribulations that humanity faces today. Hence the
first line of action is to reinstate the primacy of God.
The
Care of the least, the concern for those who are suffering, the commitment to
the marginalized, the prophecy that challenges the neglected justice and denied
rights – is an inalienable part of this process of creating new heaven and new
earth. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no
more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more. And the
Lord will do it through you and me! Every hand of a disciple of Christ should
wipe the tears in the eyes of those in agony. Every word of a Christian should
give new life to those who have lost hope. Every community of faith should
sustain those who mourn and cry in society around itself.
Commandment
of Love, comes as the essence and the summary of the whole Christian presence. Christ
speaks of the time that he will not be with his disciples and immediately
presents them with the Commandment of love, as if to say – where there is love
there is Christ. The corollary is more significant and consequential – where
there is no love there is no Christ. “By this all will know that you are my
disciples – if you have love for one another!” One cannot build the new heaven
and the new earth, without a genuine Christ-like love in one’s heart.
Today there are many who propose projects and make manifestos those who gather masses and garner public opinion, those who initiate movements and influence the society - all in the name of creating a new social order or creating a new world, in the name of progress and development. The WORD today gives us the touchstone of Christian outlook - the commandment of love. St. Augustine said it in beautiful words, "Love, and do what you will. If you keep silence, do it out of love. If you cry out, do it our of love. If you refrain from punishing, do it out of love."
Give God the primacy in daily life, Care for the least, the suffering and those in need around you, Love one another as Christ loves you - and you will be able to see the new heaven and the new earth, that is the Reign of God on earth. This is what the Lord tells you and me today!
May your Reign come O Lord!
Today there are many who propose projects and make manifestos those who gather masses and garner public opinion, those who initiate movements and influence the society - all in the name of creating a new social order or creating a new world, in the name of progress and development. The WORD today gives us the touchstone of Christian outlook - the commandment of love. St. Augustine said it in beautiful words, "Love, and do what you will. If you keep silence, do it out of love. If you cry out, do it our of love. If you refrain from punishing, do it out of love."
Give God the primacy in daily life, Care for the least, the suffering and those in need around you, Love one another as Christ loves you - and you will be able to see the new heaven and the new earth, that is the Reign of God on earth. This is what the Lord tells you and me today!
May your Reign come O Lord!