Missing the Point

Fifth Sunday of Easter

19 May 2019

First reading                                                                        Acts 14:21-27
[Paul said in the synagogue] “The people asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.’
Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as he promised; before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.”
“My brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. Because the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize him or understand the words of the prophets that are read every sabbath, they fulfilled those words by condemning him.”

Second reading                                                        Revelation 21:1-5

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Gospel                                                                     John 13:31-35

When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Reflection

By Pietro S. Albano

During our vacation in the Philippines last Christmas, we visited the National Shrine of Padre Pio in Batangas, south of the capital. Heavy rain accompanied us on our way, but I was amazed to see a considerable number of people making a pilgrimage to such a holy site. We arrived while Mass was being celebrated. After Mass, people flocked near the sanctuary where the priest would pray over them and sprinkle them with holy water. Before blessing the people, the priest reminded parents who brought their babies that these babies need to be baptized first before being blessed. His reason was that unbaptized babies are not yet children of God and therefore not eligible for a blessing.

I was aghast. 

If I were one of those parents, I would be upset. I get how important and necessary Baptism is, but the priest's words were unnecessary.  It felt like not feeding one's guests in your party.

Jesus commands the Church - you and me - to "love one another". If we focus more on the letter of the law (i.e. being baptized) than the spirit of the law (i.e. loving others and making them feel welcome in the community), we would have missed Jesus' point. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You called us to love one another as You have loved us. Help us to follow Your commandment. Help us to break barriers so that we can be united as Your people. Amen.

Mary, loving Mother of the Church, pray for us.