From our Pastor’s Desk

Dear Family:

On this fifth Sunday of Easter, we continue glorifying the risen Christ. Gradually, Christ approaches his Ascension into heaven. Hence, He promised us a place with him in his kingdom if we persevere in our faith and love for one another.

In today’s first reading, Paul encourages us to remain faithful in our mission as disciples of Jesus Christ. He reminds us that: “We all have to experience many hardships before we enter the kingdom of God.” In other words, our suffering as Christians is the steppingstone to our victory. If we do not lose our faith during times of persecution and hardships, we shall be victorious. Therefore, love for the Word and love for one another must sustain us as we march toward the kingdom of God.

Through the vision of John in today’s second reading, God gives us a glimpse of that kingdom that Paul spoke of in the first reading. God’s kingdom is the place of renewal where Christ will restore our lost glory. The New Jerusalem is the reward for Christians who bear an authentic witness to Christ. It is the hope of those who endure persecution for the sake of Christ. It is the hope of those who maintain their faith in Christ. It is a place of comfort and consolation where the risen Christ “Will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death and no more mourning or sadness.” Through this vision, we are once again encouraged and assured that God himself has a place for us in his kingdom. It is his wish that one day we too shall be with him in his eternal kingdom where he promised to make all things new for us. However, before then, we must endure the crucible of this world.

In today’s gospel, Christ gives us a new commandment that will help us to overcome this world and march into the New Jerusalem. He says: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” Was the Last-Supper commandment of Jesus to love one another really all that new? Is there not an Old Testament requirement to love my neighbor as ourselves (Lev 19:18)? The really new ideal is that we are to love in the way that Jesus loves us, and that is totally, to the last drop of his blood, poured out in the sacrifice of Calvary. Another sense in which his love-commandment is new is how he defines who is our neighbor, whom we should love. His parable of the Good Samaritan shows that everyone is our neighbor, even those of different nationality or religion. So now, love for our neighbor is very demanding, and goes beyond all racism or prejudice.

The really hard question is whether such love is possible. While giving a hesitant yes to this as a possibility, it is clear that most of us, most of the time clearly fail to live this new commandment fully. We can only love in this way by cooperating very generously with the grace of God. But the power to do is based on the new image of humanity given to us by Christ, and because we have his living presence with us, to help us love others in his way.

It is a very demanding ideal to love our neighbor as ourselves or even to love our neighbor in any way at all. In the face of Islamic extremism or any other form of terrorism, or in times of war, we are strongly tempted to dehumanize the enemy and regard them as no longer part of the human family, and so unworthy of any kind of love or respect. But Jesus’ commandment to love, and his own example of forgiving those who crucified him, constantly call us to reconsider things and seek for reconciliation rather than total victory.

It is only by living in spiritual contact with Jesus that we can love our neighbor deeply. It is by living close to him that we can love as Jesus taught. If not, we will be relying only on our human efforts. We will love with some other type of love but not the unconditional love Jesus asked for when he said, “I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” Through this, Christ reminds us that the only way we can overcome the tribulations and persecutions of this world is by remaining united in love.

In times of trials and persecution, love is the greatest virtue that sustains every Christian community. The early Christian community understood this very well. They obeyed Christ’s command and were successful in their missions. So, their admirers commented thus: “See how they love one another” (Tertullian, Apology: 39.7, 3 AD). Any Christian community or family united in love will never lose its focus or faith in God. This is the love that Paul described in chapter thirteen of his first letter to the Corinthian Christian community. This love cares and does not exploit the other. It endures, forgives, empathizes, and sympathizes with the other. This love may be blind, but it remains very prudent, sensible, reasonable, and godly.

Love asks the best from us, and brings out the best in us. Being loved gives us a surprising energy and courage. Love makes us fruitful, productive, strong and constant in doing good. Practicing love has the power to heal ourselves and others. To love is to heal, both those who receive and those who give it. To decide to love is to be fully open to life. It is choice and not just feeling. When we choose to be loving, caring, healing, helping, and forgiving persons, we grow towards what our life is meant to be. There’s really no other way. So Jesus insists, very strongly: ‘Love one another, as I have loved you.’

Finally, the love that Christ talks about here is an identification mark. Hence, He says: “By this love, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” In other words, it is what defines us as faithful disciples of Christ. Only those who love sincerely can enter the New Jerusalem that the risen Christ promised his people. This love marks the newness of life that Christ brings to all his people this Easter season.

Therefore, dear family, let us glorify our Lord by our love, continually being One Body, One Spirit, One Family!

Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Katharine Drexel, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Michael the Archangel, Pope Saint Pius X, St. Charbel and St. José Gregorio Hernández, pray for us.

Yours in Christ Jesus!
Fr. Omar

P.S. I hope you have been able to see the new first-class relic of St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church, displayed at the right entrance of our church.