Sixth Sunday Of Easter, Year C, By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior, C.S.Sp

First Reading: Acts 15:1-2.22-29 / Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3.5.6 and 8 (R. 4) Second Reading: Revelation 21:10-14.22-23/Gospel Accl.: John 14:23/Gospel: John 14:23-29

Theme: The Holy Spirit Will Teach Us The Full Truth

As the universal Church prepares for the Feast of Pentecost a fortnight from today, the liturgical readings today tickle our minds to spur us on to prepare for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in order to renew the face of the earth. We are instructed to look for solutions not problems, unity not divisions and to be pro-active not reactionary, when we face challenges. To do this, we must keep our hearts open and minds devoted to the Holy Spirit the Counsellor, who will teach and lead us to the truth, and remind us of the words of Jesus. When the darkness of problems seems to overshadow us, let us not be afraid for the glory of God will be our light and Jesus the Lamb will be our lamp.

In the first reading, we see the second major ecclesiastical problem faced by the early church. The first one was the problem of discrimination in food distribution between the Hebrew-speaking and Greek-speaking widows. This problem was solved by the subsequent selection of the seven deacons full of the Spirit, of faith and wisdom – Stephen and companions – to administer with fairness under the power of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 6). Today, the second major problem, which is actually not so different from the first, also involves cultural, or perhaps, religio-cultural issue, namely, the insistence of Jewish Christians that Gentile Christians be circumcised. This doctrinal controversy led to the First Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). The Spirit spoke through the apostles to solve it.

We are aware that circumcision is a special sign of the covenant that marks out Abraham and all his descendants as the elect of YHWH (see Gen. 17:9-14). Some of the Jewish Christians taught: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1). In Antioch, there was a fierce debate that led to dissents: some Jewish Christians in support of the motion of circumcision versus Paul and Barnabas against the motion. So, the church in Antioch sent Paul, Barnabas and some elders to Jerusalem to seek answers from the Apostles and elders (cf. Acts 15:2-3). This is didactic! We ought to remember our apostolic roots and not usurp or arrogate ecclesiastical powers to ourselves. We should listen to the wisdom of the teaching office of the Church namely, the Magisterium. The Spirit speaks through the Church; we must listen!

Again, in such matters, what should church administrators or leaders do so as not to drive away both ‘Jewish and Gentile’ converts to Christianity? The Apostles prayed for the intervention and enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, so that, through the inspiration of the same Spirit, they will be able to compose the first Apostolic Letter with the following ruling: “For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell” (Acts 15:28-29). Sometimes, a true spirit of fraternal concern and common reason should help us not to impose on others our own human traditions, idiosyncrasies and ‘routines’ which isolate others.

In the year 2002, Peter Sarpong, the Emeritus Archbishop of Kumasi, Ghana, wrote a book entitled Peoples Differ: An Approach to Inculturation in Evangelisation. One of the strong points he made was that, to proclaim Jesus to people, we should take into consideration their cultural particularities, for people’s ‘situation… is of vital importance to evangelisation.’ Poignantly, he says: “You cannot start evangelising without knowing whom you are going to preach to.” In fact, Paul and Barnabas understood the cultural background of the Gentiles and they respected that, and this determined the Gentiles’ level of receptivity of the Gospel. We must respect other people’s culture!

What the duo emphasised was also what the Apostles highlighted in their letter sent to them through Judas Barsabbas and Silas (cf. Acts 15:22-23). They were to refrain from idolatry and sexual immorality, two things which sever relationship with God, with others and with the self, and as well, estrange us totally from attaining eternal life. This is a great apostolic directive with very important guidelines, and so the Psalmist reiterates it in song singing: “Let the nations be glad and shout for joy, with uprightness you rule the peoples; you guide the nations on earth…So will your ways be known upon earth and all nations learn your salvation” (Ps. 67:4, 2).

We ought to evangelise or feed people with what will save their souls, not human traditions or human gospel founded on materialism. When we preach falsely, we offer false hope to people and consequently, this leads to instant but ephemeral success, but at the end, it creates a void which makes people despondent and more desperate. Again, this creates cross-less Christianity, such that, when troubles come their way, they lose hope easily and become frustrated, for they see no meaning in life. If care is not taken, they commit suicide. In our day, some people commit suicide because of depression borne out of the false hope or empty prosperity preaching given to people. Presently in our world, there are marital and family difficulties, socio-economic challenges, religio-political bigotry, kidnappings, terrorism, insecurity, armed-robbery, ritual killings, secularism, indifference and wars borne out of bitter hatred buried deep in the human heart. Christ’s Gospel of love and peace is what we really need, and we have been commissioned to heal the world by our preaching.

Furthermore, our evangelisation must be apostolic. In the second reading, John’s revelations on the Island of Patmos confirm the apostolic foundations of the Christian church which foreshadows the heavenly Jerusalem: “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb… And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the almighty and the Lamb” (Rev. 21:14, 22). Any community calling itself ‘Christian’ which has no apostolic roots or connection is on its own. It lacks the divine touch but not the human agency. At best, it is all human instrumentality and power, with the Spirit relegated!

So, what are we to do? We are to obey the commandments of Jesus. In fact, obedience is the proof of love, and that is why Jesus teaches in today’s Gospel: “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (Jn. 14:23). Another point is that, we are to be teachable, friendly and docile to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Counsellor or the Advocate, the Guide and the Teacher par excellence. We read thus: “But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (Jn. 14:26).

We pray for the peace of Christ for the Christian church which is still under attack as of old. Jesus assures us: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (Jn. 14:27a). The world’s peace is material and evanescent. It seems to satisfy the now and not the ‘not-yet.’ However, Christ’s peace, which is Shalom in Hebrew and Eirēnē in Greek, is not just the absence of trouble, but the sense of wholeness and complete well-being devoid of fear now and forever. Hence, after offering his peace, Jesus says: “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (Jn. 14:27b). Christ has promised us his peace and ever-abiding presence among us through the Holy Spirit. May this peace, which is one of the gifts of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22) be given us as we prayerfully and expectantly wait for the Spirit at Pentecost. Happy Sunday and may God richly bless us! Remember: #The-Holy-Spirit-Will-Teach-Us-The-Full-Truth#