Sixth
Sunday of Easter
Acts 10: 25 – 26, 34 – 35, 44 – 48; Ps. 98; 1 Jn. 4:7 –
10; Jn. 15: 9 – 17
It has
been almost two years since my mother left us in the family. It has been our
wish that she would remain forever at home because of many reasons. With her
presence, food was abundant, delicious, and fresh. With her presence, there was
never a dull moment in the family. With her presence, I could never see a sad
face of my father. And I would like to believe that it is also the same in each
one of you gathered this morning. Everyone will certainly agree that we all
want our loved ones to remain close to us forever because without them life
will be dark, dry, and dull.
The
event in our Gospel took place on the evening before Jesus’ passion and death
on the cross. Before leaving his chosen friends, he gathers them together and
asks them to remain in his love even if he will be away from them. Remaining in
Jesus’ love means to forever stay loyal and ground their lives on him. He gives
us three reasons why there is a necessity to remain in his love.
First, “I
have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.”
Life has always been a constant search for happiness. We play, pray, and get a
pay in order to be happy. However, at the end of the day, our souls continue to
experience a lack, a gap. We ask and look for more because the happiness that
we have achieved is fleeting like a bubble. Thus, Jesus is offering us the gift
of himself for only through him can we find lasting joy. As the Great Teresa de
Avila puts it, “God alone suffices.” Jesus’ joy is lasting because it is not
anchored from the world but from his Father who is in heaven.
Second,
“I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard
from my Father.” We are all into different kinds of relationships. In every
relationship that we have, we see to it that it must be preserved from
destruction and separation. However, earthly relationships end either because
of death or other human circumstances. That is why Jesus is inviting us to
remain in him because he has already called us his friends. His Incarnation was
the greatest proof of his desire to enter into a relationship with Him. His
death on the cross and resurrection were the proofs that even suffering and
death cannot extinguish the fire of his love for you and me.
Finally,
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and
bear fruit that will remain.” When we have good and pleasant experiences with
our loved ones, we certainly do not want to keep them all for our own selves.
We share our experiences with others. This is also true in our relationship
with Jesus. As we remain in his love, we are also sent on a mission and share
our fruits with those who have none. Just as Jesus shared with us the love of
the Father, we are also called to share Jesus’ love to the rest of humanity.
Before
we celebrate next Sunday the Solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension into heaven,
today, we are asked by our Savior to remain in his love. To remain in Jesus’
love means receiving his joy; entering into a friendship with him; and being
sent to the mission.
It has
been almost two years since my mother left us in the family. Yes, she is no
longer with us physically. However, I realized that until today, her presence
has remained in our hearts. Every time we think and recall our memories with
her, she remains alive in our lives. Jesus is also physically away from us
today. Yet, every time we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, Jesus remains with us.
Every time we gather together every Sunday to break bread with each other, we
receive His joy, His friendship, and His love. Amen!
Photo courtesy of http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1151/1295569165_386baf134b_z.jpg?zz=1
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