Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

                                                                                         

 Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C - May 19, 2019.

Readings: Acts 14:21-27; Ps 145:8-9.10-11.12-13; Rev. 21:15a & Gospel – John 13:31-33a.34-35.

Theme: The Burden of Love!

Introduction

Friends in Christ, on this Sunday, our liturgy challenges on the demands of love. Titled “The Burden of Love,” our reflection highlights five responsibilities of the Christian life namely, following Jesus’ commandment of love, practicing prayer, readiness to accept suffering for the sake of Christ, embracing the challenge to serve the community through the recognition of everyone as a disciple of Christ and proclaiming Christ without fear or favour. 

Background & Summary of the Readings

The first reading (Acts 14:21-27) recounts how Paul and Barnabas went round Lystra, Iconium and Antioch encouraging the faithful to persevere in the face of persecution. They noted that hardship is a necessary condition to enjoying eternal life. For continuity and strengthening of the faith, they appointed elders through prayer and fasting, commending them to the Lord. Traversing through Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga and Attalia, they carried out their missionary mandate in love despite the troubles; they assembled the faithful and told how they opened the door of faith to the gentiles.

In the second reading (Rev. 21:15a), as usual John in his apocalypse sees the new heaven and new earth – the holy city, the New Jerusalem. He notes that there, God makes his home among humans as he is their God and they his people.  He recounts that there are no human afflictions like tears, dead, mourning, sadness or pain there noting that he is making a new creation; he maintains that what he is saying is trustworthy and would come true. 

The gospel reading (John 13:31-33a.34-35) narratives how after the departure of Judas, Jesus told his companions that the Son of Man would be glorified. After revealing his impending passion, he gave them a new commandment with the charge to love one another as he has loved them noting: “It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognize you as my disciples.” The question is, what is the connection between his death and the new commandment? This leads us to the burden of love story. 

The Burden of Love: A Narrative

The story is told of a boy who had three major challenges – He was a dwarf, had a hunchback and could not walk. Because of these disabilities, his younger brother had to always carry him to school. Each time they were going to school, all eyes were on them. The pathetic side of the story was that, other pupils usually boo at them on their way to school.

One day, they were late to school and the younger brother had to increase his steps to catch up with the 7:45 am School Assembly. But because his older brother was heavy, he could not keep a good pace. Other pupils who came running started jeering at them again. This time around, one of them said: “What a burden you are carrying.” The smiling young man replied: “He is not a burden, he is my brother.” This touching story reveals the burden of love.   

    

Practical Lessons

1. The encouraging message of Paul and Barnabas to the Christian communities in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch that they should persevere in the face of persecution serves as a boaster to contemporary Christians who are constantly taunted for their faith.

2. By stressing that hardship is a necessary condition to enjoying eternal life, they apostles give us quality assurance that our current challenges in life are nothing compared to the crown of glory we shall receive at the end of time as evident in the apocalypse of John in the second reading.

3. By opening the door of faith to the gentiles, the apostles teach us how to open new vistas for others who have not yet heard the Good News based on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20.

4. The popular saying “Every disappointment is a blessing” comes to the fore in the life of Jesus because we are told that it was the devilish plot and departure of Judas which gave way to Jesus’ glorification.

6. The connection between Jesus’ death and the new commandment of love reveals that love is burden, a sweet yoke we ought to bear for the sake of Christ.

7. In a world where prosperity gospel and materialism have supplanted the preaching of repentance and salvation, Christians are tasked to be ready to accept suffering for the sake of Christ.

8. We are challenged to follow Jesus’ commandment of love through the practice of prayer in season and out of season.

9. We are challenged to serve our various communities through the recognition of everyone as a disciple of Christ who is charged with the responsibility of fulfilling his or her own mission in life.

10. Above all, we are reminded that standing up for Christ has its own troubles which we must embrace happily in order to proclaim him without fear or favour.

 

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. Our liturgy challenges on the demands of love.

2.  They [apostles] carried out their missionary mandate in love despite the troubles.

3. As usual John in his apocalypse sees the new heaven and new earth – the holy city, the New Jerusalem.

4. After revealing his impending passion, he gave them a new commandment with the charge to love one another as he has loved them.

5. It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognize you as my disciples.

Conclusion

We have established that love is a burden, a sweet yoke. As such, the Church invites us to follow Jesus’ commandment of love, embrace the practice of prayer, accept suffering for the sake of Christ, serve the community through the recognition of everyone as a disciple of Christ and proclaim him without fear or favour. This can only come about if we truly love God and our neighbour. May we like the little boy in our lead story see beyond the burden of our daily lives and embrace the values of the kingdom with love so as to gain eternal life. Amen. Have a fabulous week ahead!