Reflection for May 9, 2021

Sixth Sunday of Easter ( B )

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 | Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 | 1 John 4:7-10 | John 15:9-17

​The dominant theme in the readings this weekend is that God is love. Of course, I would never be forgiven if I forget to mention that today we also celebrate mothers. Let us express our love and gratitude to our dear mothers and pray for them.

Dexter and Nathalie, childless couple, visited a care home in Tagaytay City which housed children for adoption. The social worker brought out all the children who were recently bathed, well dressed, properly schooled in manners; for this couple’s study. As they passed down the line and spoke to each child, they did not find the one they were looking for to adopt. They asked the social worker: “Do you have any more children?” He replied: “Yes, Ringo. But he has not been cleaned up or dressed for viewing today.” They said immediately: “That's alright, can we see him?” After a few minutes, the child was brought out and stood with the rest of the children. He was dirty, face unwashed, hair uncombed; clothes ragged and torn, no shoes; and his head was bowing down in shame, as he stood next to the other children. After a few minutes of somber discussion; and wiping the tears from their eyes; they said to the social worker: “We want Ringo!” Surprised, the social worker replied: “But this child is not as clean as the other children; he's unmannered, and unloved by his own parents.” He continued: “And we have been unable to get him to behave; why do you want him?” Nathalie replied: “This child, whom almost no one else wanted will be our greatest joy. To care for him and to raise him to become a good person is what we’re on this earth for." Embarrassed, the social worker asked, “Do you want us to clean him up?” Dexter replied, lovingly: “No, we want Ringo just as he is right now.”

That's how God sees us; and he will take us, just like we are right now. Very briefly, the first reading from Acts serves as reminder to us that the love of God embodied in Jesus reached out as well to include the people of “every nation.” When Peter sees that the Spirit of God has embraced the faith of Cornelius and his household, the apostle proclaims a profound truth: “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears God and acts uprightly is acceptable to God.” Peter’s insight, and his actions, represent a rising above the distinctions of “clean and unclean” and “Jew and Gentile" for clearly, God’s intention was to bring the Gentiles into the family of the Church.

Five year old Joy was in a heated argument with her older sister Jill about who was going to get the last brownie. Their mother Laurice overheard the loud discussion in their kitchen and came in to resolve the conflict. Her two girls were obviously very distraught about getting that final treat. Sensing the need to teach a deeper truth, the mom asked her children that ever-relevant question: “What would Jesus do?” Jill immediately answered, “That’s easy, Jesus would just break the brownie and make five thousand more!”

Our Second reading takes us to the most profound insight about God — “God is love". This provides the reason and motivation for the mutual love expected from us, the Church. Our life is to be the life of love, because God loves, and God expects this love to be exchanged by those who belong to him. It’s easy to love people who love us back. Anyone can do that. But we’re to love those who don’t love us back — even those who have it out for us. They are the people who drive us crazy. They annoy us with their insincere words or their rash behaviors. They’re the bosses who call us into the office on holidays, the boyfriend or girlfriend who cheats on you, the neighbors who gossip about you and the coward who backs out of a debate challenge. They are the ones we enjoy the least and disagree with the most. We also need to love them. I suggest to you this is easier said than done! To respond to one another, and to God, through love, means to know God.

Two sisters, Charity and Charmayne, went to Luisa, their mom, to settle a longstanding disagreement. Luisa got the two to reconcile their differences and shake hands. As they were about to leave, he asked each one to make a wish for the other. Charity turned to the other and said, "I wish you what you wish me." At that, Charmayne threw up his hands and said, "See, mom, she's starting up again!

The gospel passage for today is taken from the final discourse of Jesus to his disciples found near the end of John’s Gospel. It focuses on the believers’ response to the loving God’s offer of salvation. In a memorable phrase, Jesus states, “as the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love". To be truly “catholic" is to be universal. At the core of that identity is the call to give witness to a God who loves the people “of every nation” and who embraces the world even those who don’t love us back. Living in love means belonging to God, and such union leads to salvation, to eternal life. We must take specific steps to reach out to the world around us with respect and compassion and, yes, with love. Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! <enrique,ofs>