Today is the 5th Sunday after Easter. I am happy that we did the “May Crowning” last week, and let us continue to seek Mother Mary’s maternal protection by praying the rosary regularly. When I can’t find the time to pray, I always turn on my CD inside my car in order to pray and meditate each mystery as I recite the rosary. Let us offer a rosary, a bouquet of roses to the Blessed Mother Mary.
The epistle today, taken from the Book of James, is a persuasive message that intends to clarify the true meaning of being a Christian and provides important instructions that we should adhere to. The passage begins with the following sentence: “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (v.22) This verse signifies that we become the doers of the word and not only the passive hearers. To make his message even more convincing, James employs an allegory and compares the passive hearers with the individuals in front of a mirror “For he beheld himself and went his way and presently forgot what manner of man he was.” (v.24) St. James‘ writing seems to attempt to illustrate how unreasonable such behavior is, and how pointless it is for one to learn something important and then never use it in practice. St. James encourages us to follow his instructions saying, “not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” The danger is that we listen to the word of God and agree mentally with it, and we say, “This is true, that is right, I believe this and yet we stop acting on it. We cheat because we deprive ourselves of something important and valuable to practice in our life, and oftentimes depend on lies and listening to the words of others that are not true as if it were true. We don’t read the Bible to become familiar with it. We really don’t know what the Bible says about saving our souls, blessing others with perseverance to achieve the crown of life for eternity. We seldom meditate on the content of the scriptures so that the words are written on our heart. We know some biblical verses but it’s in our head and when we fall into trials, as we do, the scripture doesn’t help because it is not part of us. We need to depend on His word and act on it.
The gospel from St. John is a flashback to what had been spoken by Jesus to His disciples in the upper room. There are several important points to reflect on:
First, Jesus says, “If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you.” This is an invitation to consider prayer requests to God in the name of Jesus. We know that in the scripture, the disciples were taught to pray in His name. (Jn 14:13-14) We pray in the name of Jesus in order to acknowledge that our access to God in prayer comes only through Jesus. As sinners, we are separated from God, and through Jesus our friendship with God has been restored. By grace and the HOLY SPIRIT we are united to Him, for we become children of God whom we are able to call, “Abba, Father,” to experience intimacy and life-giving communion with Him. (Rom 8:15)
Second, Jesus says, “I will ask the Father for you, for the Father Himself loveth you, because you have loveth Me and have believed that I came out from God.” These words of Jesus are remarkable that the Father loves the disciples simply because they love and believe in Jesus. How do we understand this? Just think of your child’s friends whom you know are good companions and reliable and loving friends to your own child. You reciprocate that goodness of your child’s friends and consider them as part of your family. I believe the loving God felt the same way about the disciples who were truly devoted to Jesus and loved and believed Him. This is exactly the whole idea that God truly loves us when we faithfully love and believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. It is a clear consideration of Christian love for, and faith in, Jesus.
Third, His disciples say to Jesus, “Behold, now Thou speakest plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now we know that Thou knowest all things, and Thou needest not that any man should ask Thee, by this we believe that Thou camest forth from God.” (v.30) This is an indication that the disciples have had their eyes opened a bit more in regard to their knowledge about their master. Jesus has spoken to them clearly without any figures of speech, but in words they easily understand. Jesus not only addressed their questions but answered them because He knows the depth of their hearts. After believing Jesus who came from God, they realized their mission to fulfill.
Therefore, this gospel is a perfect reminder that despite the blessing of Easter, we endure so many challenges and trials. Though the resurrection of Jesus confirmed His victorious lordship, we need to believe that we are not abandoned by Jesus, because He is our Savior. Let us proclaim the many promises of the Lord by keeping His words and living them out, which is the hope of our own resurrection and the source of our courage in this world.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
