May 29, 2011 – 6th Sunday of Easter

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 1 Pet 3:15-18 Jn 14:15-21

This reflection is taken from an ongoing conversation between first century catechumen, Respecta and her teacher, Petras.

“Why so quiet this morning, Respecta?” Petras asked on the way home from the meeting with catechumens.

“Oh, I guess my mind is full of thoughts about the readings chosen for today’s liturgy,” Respecta responded. “I can hardly keep my mind from swirling around with Jesus’ commandment to love. I remember when he told the parable about the so-called ‘good Samaritan’ and realize how far I have to go in order to truly love everyone as unconditionally as Jesus loves.”

“Yes, that is truly a life-time project. I doubt that any one of us can be fully satisfied with how well we keep His commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. We live in a world where we love our families and, perhaps, some of our local neighbors while we don’t even feel we owe the truth to others. To really love as Jesus loves stretches our boundaries to include absolutely everyone. Isn’t that what attracted you to the Christian community in the first place, Respecta?”

“Yes, of course. It blew my mind at first. I saw all kinds of people living in harmony who were supposed to be enemies. Their love for Jesus opened their hearts to people who had such different customs and traditions from their own. Seeing that kind of love at work caused me to think that God was at work in this community. I am trying to overcome my natural hesitancy to reach out to strangers, particularly ones that I was taught to treat with suspicion since childhood.”

Petras let the quiet between them grow again. “What else is on your mind?”

“I am completely amazed at what Jesus said when I heard him quoted this morning. What really got my attention was the line, “Because I live, you also will live.” What I mean is, I am already alive, but He talked in the future tense. It’s like He was promising something more.”

“Yes, He was speaking about the future in one sense. Right now we are alive, but not fully alive in the resurrection as He is alive. Jesus’ life dramatically changed on Easter. We heard about it in the stories of His appearances to the disciples after He rose from death. Jesus was able to simply appear and no one saw Him coming or going. There was a kind of freedom about Him that wasn’t present before His death. He is in glory already while we are living mortal lives awaiting our own eternal life. And, of course, He will never die or suffer again. We trust His promise that our life will continue with Him where He is after death. Then all the life, love, and freedom that we see in Jesus will also be part of our lives. It is as though our life right now is a mere shadow of real life. What we think is so good and so beautiful now is a pale reflection of the goodness and beauty that we will encounter in resurrected life.”

“That is something to look forward to,” Respected interrupted.

“Yes it is. But we must not think of eternal life as something that is only after death. The gospel of John tells us that right now, at this very moment, we are living in the grace of Jesus’ resurrection. We possess eternal life right now because He is alive in us. His Spirit guides us, inspires us and gives us the strength to love as Jesus loves. We are filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment of our baptism. This Spirit is no stranger to us either. This Holy Spirit is the same Spirit that moved Jesus to love and preach and heal. The Spirit is the love between the Father and the Son.”

“Even, so, Petras. I would rather have lived while Jesus was alive on earth than now. Imagine the extraordinary experience of seeing Him at work! We are only left with His Spirit.”

“Oh, Repecta, don’t imagine that it was easier for the disciples who walked with Jesus to understand what they saw. While their hearts were moved by Jesus’ miracles and teachings, they were also limited to seeing Him as a great teacher or a prophet. They didn’t know about His resurrection and many were disappointed in Him. After all, much of what Jesus taught was so contrary to both Jewish and Roman society’s values, that He was considered dangerous. Some thought that He was a simpleton or misguided revolutionary. Because you and I believe in His resurrection, it is so much easier to accept His ways and His teachings as God’s will for us. I actually think that it is easier to be a Christian now than in the pre-Easter days. Of course, it is never easy to become fully Christian!”

“I understand what you mean, Petras, and I am encouraged that Jesus has not left us orphans to manage on our own power. I am amazed to think that God’s own Spirit has already been at work in me even when I didn’t know that the desire for more understanding and love drove me toward the Christian community. Now that I am aware of the Spirit’s power at work in the community and in my life, I can ask for the specific gifts that I need to be faithful to Jesus. I wonder what the Spirit can do for me when I don’t know what to ask for.”

“Well, Respecta, I don’t think you and I have to worry about what to ask for. As our lives unfold and needs present themselves to us, then we know what to ask for. To do what is good, generous and loving with everyone we meet can also bring about constant prayer in us so that we respond as Jesus did. You and I are fortunate that we are no longer in the position that the Samaritans were when Philip taught them. We know that the Holy Spirit is Jesus’ promise and our Counselor –they didn’t even know there was a Spirit at first. The Samaritans were baptized into Christ without so much as hearing about the Spirit, so that Peter and John had to come and complete the teaching that Philip began there. Then they were able to receive the Spirit and their rejoicing increased. You can rejoice already that the Spirit has been at work in you before your baptism. Imagine how much more you will rejoice later!”

“I am looking forward to being baptized, Petras. Until then, I want to grow in loving everyone as Jesus loves them. Will you pray for me, too?”

“Of course, Respecta. See you next week?”

Reflection question: When could I be seeking the Spirit’s guidance in my everyday life? Where do I still need to grow in living the Christian life?