To read the texts click on the texts:Acts8:5-8,14-17; 1 Pet 3:15-18; Jn 14:15-21
Someone
once said tongue in cheek: “The reason mountain climbers are tied together is
to keep the sane ones from going home.” Whoever said that may have been joking,
but only partly. For, though we know that mountain climbers are tied together
to keep from getting lost or going over a cliff and even to support and
encourage one another, there is another piece of truth here. When things get
difficult up on the mountain, when the going gets tough, when the path is too
steep, when fear sets in, many a climber is tempted to say, “This is too
difficult! It’s crazy! I’m going home.” This is understandable and sometimes
even prudent.
The
life of faith can be like that. When doubts set in and despair overwhelms us,
the whole notion of believing in God seems crazy. Jesus was aware that his
disciples would have days like that, and so the focus in the opening verses of
this chapter (Jn 14) read last week was on the confidence that the disciples
are exhorted to have, since Jesus will overcome death and return.
Here
the focus is on two interconnected aspects. The first of these is the intimate
connection between the love which one has for Jesus and keeping his commandment
of love – a theme which begins and ends this text – and the second is the
promise of the Advocate, Helper, Comforter, Counsellor or Paraclete that Jesus
will ask for the disciples from the Father who will come to their aid and to
give strength and courage when the going gets tough and the road is steep.
In
the first, Jesus is explicit that the love of the disciple has to be a tangible
love that will express itself in action. It is to be an imitation of the love
that the first letter of Peter speaks about; the love of Christ who died for
the guilty to lead us to God. This kind of unconditional love will lead to the
disciple sharing in the Father’s love.
It
also leads to the second and connected aspect: the promise of the gift of the
Advocate who will abide not only with the disciples but also in them. The
Advocate can mean variously, “the one who comforts”, “the one who helps” and
“the one who makes appeals on one’s behalf”. This Advocate will not engage in
any new work, but will continue the work of Jesus. The Spirit will ensure that
the revelation of God begun in Jesus will continue forever. Though the
Paraclete will be with the disciples, Jesus himself will also return to
accompany the disciples.
While
not abandoning traditional beliefs – for instance, in the second coming and
judgement – John handles them in a way which relates them directly to the
present. The chief focus of his spirituality is not bigger miracles or stricter
commandments, but the expansion of the initiative of love which comes from God
and seeks to fill the world. This is why John’s account of Jesus’ last words
insists on the Spirit, relationship and resultant action on communities of love
which ‘speak for themselves’. The passage is framed by human anxiety about the
absence of Jesus and ultimately about the absence of God (14:1; 14:27). It does
not deny the anxiety and distress, but offers a promise of presence and sense
of meaning embedded in sharing God’s life and participating in God’s action in
the world, recognizable by its ‘Jesus-shape’. These parting words of Jesus are
not merely for his immediate disciples but disciples of all times.
This
is why even after the death of Stephen by stoning and the general persecution
of the Christian community, Philip, one of the seven chosen deacons, is aware
of this presence of the Risen Lord and is bold to proclaim Christ. The Spirit
working in and through him enabled him to both preach and act as Jesus himself
had done. The result of Philip’s actions through the guidance of the Spirit was
that people were made whole. This combination of healing word and action
resulted in great rejoicing, and many were drawn to Christ.
This
presence, in which the disciples loved, continued to sustain them and make an
impact on others. Since this was so, they are exhorted in the second reading of
today to be willing to share that hope. It is not to be a sharing that smacks
of condescension or a sharing which professes to have the whole truth, but a
sharing that has to be done in humility, courtesy and reverence for the other.
We are given as it were a starting point for inter-religious dialogue.
This
kind of sharing is the need of the hour in today’s world. In a world that is
already a global village but also where each community is becoming more closed
in on itself and parochial, the task of the Christian community is evident.
Convinced that the Risen Lord continues to accompany us on our journey in and
through his Spirit which abides in each of us, we must be able to communicate
this presence which is manifested in peace, joy, fellowship and justice for
all.
No comments:
Post a Comment
You may use the "Anonymous" option to leave a comment if you do not possess a Google Account. But please leave your name and URL as www.errolsj.com