St. Benedict's Monastery, Arcadia
Sunday Gospel Comment
Alberic Jacovone OSB
YEAR C SIXTH SUNDAY - 13.5.07 Acts 15,1-2.22-29; Rev. 21,10-14.22-23; Jn 14,23-29 Peace and Christian Fortitude Happy Mothers' Day May the comforting words of today's Gospel give meaning to our family celebrations. On this day, Jesus' words: 'do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid' bring joy and hope on any fears that may be frightening us. And Jesus' own gift of peace – a 'peace that the world cannot give' fills our hearts, as we experience communion with one another and with Christ. We know that Jesus is God's Envoy and our Messiah who was foretold to bring the gift of peace. Now that He is among us as God's Anointed-One (as Christ) he says: 'my own peace I bequeath to you'. Today, let's take time, to enjoy this amazing peace, let's gratefully abide in it, and as best as we can, let's bring it to anyone who may be troubled or afraid. At Mass today let's allow our children to experience 'peace and communion'. As we give and receive the 'Sign of Peace': let it express what it actually is, a sign of Communion in Christ and of mutual 'Charity' (a Greek word 'charis', which means grace-ful-nes). May this 'Sign', help us to express the truth about who we are as 'church' (from the Greek 'Kuriake' = house-hold of the Risen Lord), and as God's holy people. These words of Jesus invite us to go back in our life to the occasions when we have been anxious, troubled and afraid..... perhaps even hurt, angry and destroyed over situations that have devastated our life and the life of our Dear-Ones. Yes, let us bring the peace of Christ over our times of turmoil and loss, let us re-appreciate the serenity of prayer and thank God for the 'peace that the word cannot give'. How many times our faith has allowed us to overcome trials and tribulations, to be strong and stand firm, continue to trust in God, and persevere in our Christian and Catholic convictions. Feminine wisdom in John's Gospel At Easter Time, we reflect on John's Gospel: a document which has been divided by scholars into 'Book of Signs' (Chapter 1-12) and 'Book of Glory' (Chapters 13-21). The last 5 of these chapters make up the 'Farewell Discourse' of Jesus at the Last Supper. As we read, we make for ourselves a background, where – naively – we imagine Jesus with 'the 12' sitting around the table. We focus on Jesus, who after the meal washed the disciples' feet and then – in a rather melancholic, emotional, affectionate mood – poured his heart out, expressing his motherly concern for them, giving emotional advises and saying how he misses them. But, on closer study, this setting is not historically accurate. Scholars say that the text is made up by different sections, each belonging to a different author, and all sitting side by side. These 'writers' are members of the same Community within the Palestinian Tradition, all showing deep reverence toward a 'Beloved Disciple', founder and teacher of this Community. For years, this 'Beloved Disciple' would have talked about the words of Jesus to 'His Own' and out of these 'homilies', each writer would have written his contribution. From this collection, Early Christians and future generations came to be nourished and were sustained in their courageous witness, at the dreadful time when they were persecuted by pagan Authorities and expelled by their fellow Jews, as these too, were trying to establish a 'New Way' to live their Jewish life (Alakah)', now that the Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed in 70AD, wiping forever the 'old Temple Worship'. The 'Farewell Chapters' are packed with motherly wisdom: from it, we draw strength and experience intimacy with Our Lord. Here, as we face our daily crosses, we are invited to honour our hurts, let motherly care guide our steps, welcome any shifts of understanding and let Christ live and radiate in us. ______________________________________ |
