Homily for May 13, 2018).
“Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” John 17:11.
Last Sunday, the theme of our reflection was “Beloved, let us love one another.” Jesus told us last Sunday that it is by loving one another that we bear fruits as branches connected to the vine.
Somehow, our readings today continue in that same direction; Jesus, fully aware that his time of departure was drawing very close prayed for his disciples. The contents of this prayer reveal to us the most important things needed for the survival of the infant church.
First, Jesus prayed for unity in the church. He begged that we should be one just as He and the Father are one. The unity between believers should be as strong as the unity between Jesus and the Father. As the saying goes: “United we stand, divided we fall.”
When we are not united, when everyone goes his or her way, when we engage squarely in fighting one another, picking out faults, condemning and criticising each other, the church simply falls apart.
Am I contributing towards unity in the church? Or am I an agent of division? Do I go about spreading rumours about people just for the fun of seeing people quarrel among themselves?
Pope Francis once gave a joke about a woman whose profession was that of gossiping in the church. One day, she became very sick and called the priest to give her communion and in response, the priest said: “with that long tongue of yours, you can actually stretch it from your window and it will reach the tabernacle.” Gossiping about others is a very bad divisive attitude.
Our first reading this morning depicts a very united church. The eleven apostles came together under the leadership of Peter and jointly agreed to elect someone to take the place of Judas Iscariot. There was nothing like politics or leadership tussle in the church.
The simple fact that the church continues to exist today is a clear testimony to the power of unity. Nonetheless, the questions for every one of us today is: Am I an agent of unity or division? Do I engage in church politics to the extent that I am even willing to kill my fellow Christian just to get into power?
Jesus prayed that we should be one among ourselves just as he and the Father are one. This means we are to be one in nature, one in character and one in purpose amongst ourselves. This oneness can only come to pass when we sincerely love ourselves. In fact, without this love for one another, we cannot even claim to be Christians.
St. John tells us in our second reading today that the only way we can prove to know God at all is that we love one another. “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:16. Love for one another is the only valid identity card of a Christian.
Going further in his prayer, Jesus notes the fact that we do not belong to the world just as he is not of the world, that the world hates us but rather than we are taken out of it, we should be kept from the evil one.
Dear friends, the greatest mistake we often make is fighting our fellow Christians not knowing our real enemy is the devil who comes to steal, to kill and destroy. The fact is that Satan always tries to employ “divide-and-rule-tactics.” Satan loves to see Christians fight against each other just so that he may come in to wreak further havoc.
This is why St. Paul clearly warns that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. We wrestle not against fellow Christians “but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.
The reason why we face persecution as Christians is that we do not belong to the world. We can never earn the love of the world. We cannot serve two masters. In Romans 12:1-2, we read: “I appeal to you, therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Finally, Jesus prays that we should be sanctified and consecrated in the truth. To be sanctified means to be set apart, to be separated. We are set apart to please God, to be obedient and loyal to God regardless of the cost. We are not to be like everyone else but remain disciplined and live spiritual lives. Lies should never exist in our life.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, make me an agent of unity, love and holiness in your church. Amen.
Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Seventh Sunday of Easter. Year B. Bible Study: Acts 1:15-26. 1st John 4:11-16 and John 17:11-19).
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