FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
24 APRIL 2016
We
do not often read the Book of Revelation, because it is written in a style
which is difficult to understand. But,
Saint John, the author, speaks to us every Sunday during the Easter Season in
our second reading. Today, he applies
the Mystery of Christ’s Resurrection to all of creation. He tells us that God’s creation will be
transformed. Because Christ has
recreated and redeemed what had been lost by sin, everything that is good in
the present heavens and present earth will remain at the end of time. But whatever is scarred by sin, represented
by the chaos of the waters before creation and the flood at the time of Noah,
will be no longer.
This vision
gives us great hope, especially as we struggle to live the new commandment
which Jesus gives us at the Last Supper.
It is not easy to love one another as Jesus has loved us. It is not easy to be humble and wash the feet
of others, as Jesus did at the Last Supper.
Washing the feet of others involves getting involved in acts of service
in our community, in our families, and in our parish. Washing the feet of others can be exhausting,
because no one seems to notice. Washing
the feet of others can be discouraging, because we seldom see results. Nor is it easy to give of our lives totally,
as Jesus did when he allowed his executioners to nail his hands and feet to the
cross. Those of you who sacrifice
mightily to maintain your bond of marriage when things get difficult know that pain. Those of you who are parents know the pain of
the cross when your outpouring of love goes unappreciated and even rejected. Any embrace of the cross is tough!
When Jesus
tells us to love as he has loved us, he is describing a love that transforms
warm feelings. As difficult as this love
may be, he is being glorified already, even as he has put on his garments after
washing feet and facing the horror and humiliation of execution on the cross. The same is true of us. We are already being glorified when we love
as he has loved us. That is why we have used
the words from the Book of Revelation for our capital campaign: “Behold, I make all things new.” Our sacrifices will not only bring a
beautiful and bigger church, as well as better facilities for our educational
efforts. Our sacrifices will be
transformed by the power of the resurrection in the new heaven and the new
earth at the end of time.
The Seer of
the Book of Revelation uses an interesting image to describe that vision. He describes a New Jerusalem, coming out of heaven
from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Sixteen years ago, Bishop D’Arcy gave me
permission to take a sabbatical. For
three months, I lived in the Arab city of Azaria (Bethany in the Bible), and
studied the Scriptures every morning.
Every afternoon, I would walk to the Mount of Olives, go down to the Kedron
Valley, and spend time in the ancient city.
It was remarkable. I could
understand why John used the city as an image in his vision. Layers of history and reminders of faith are
everywhere now. However, in the New Jerusalem,
there will be no pickpockets at the Damascus Gate. In the New Jerusalem, garbage will be
collected daily. In the New Jerusalem,
Israeli teenagers will not be carrying guns, and Palestinian kids will not be
throwing rocks.
Boys and
girls, you are here today, because your parents have loved you, as Jesus
commands at the Last Supper. They bring
you here, because they trust that their love for you will be transformed by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ. When you
go to the Baptismal Font, you will renew the promises they made for you. Then, you will be fed by the Body and Blood
of Christ for the first time. You can
trust that you will be strengthened in learning how to love as Jesus has commanded
every time you are fed at this Altar. In
celebrating this Eucharist, we are already sharing in the New Jerusalem. As you grow up, this Sacrament will be
crucial to your faith in Jesus’ power to transform our meager efforts into something
beautiful and eternal.
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