I give you a new commandment: 5th Sunday of Easter

John 13: 31-33a, 34-35

            I give you a new commandment; love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

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            Sometimes I am asked, what do I need to do to be a Christian? I have found this to be an amusing question. The Christian faith is not really as complicated as some seem to think. Today’s Gospel is one of the simplest examples of Christianity in practice. How do I live as a Christian? How do I love God?

            When I write, speak, or have interaction with anyone, I have certain check points that I use to insure that I am following Christ’s teachings. This is certainly one of them. Another would be Mk, 12; 29-31 and of course the Golden Rule Mat, 7;12. Using these scriptures, and others, helps me to quickly discover my failings.

            Let me clarify this just a little, how we love God through Christ is pretty simple. However, actually loving God by following this teaching is anything but simple, or easy. When someone cuts us off in traffic our first reaction isn’t usually to offer him/her the peace and love of Christ. This usually comes next, if at all. Practice does make perfect or at least perfect practice make perfect. This challenge of Christ to put ourselves second to others is a lifelong challenge. This challenge extends throughout our lives because we will not know this perfect love until we have been accepted by God into the kingdom of heaven.

            The challenge to love God by loving each other is an immense challenge. Our Christ has given us a place in heaven; it is our responsibility to maintain our place by following these commands challenged to us by this same Christ.

May the peace and love of Christ that also gives us the strength to follow him, be with you always.

Scripture is from the NABRE

by David E. Gonzales

The Father and I are one. John 10; 27-30 - The Fourth Sunday of Easter

Our Christ has given us his word, the word that he is the Son of God. With stones in their hands, the crowds wait for a reason to throw these stones, and Jesus gives it to them. The crowd picks the rocks up from the street at hearing this blasphemy and still Jesus continues speaking. In their eyes he has committed a great sin. And so they attempt to bury him with the stones that lay beneath their feet. Jesus escapes “from their power”; I take this to mean the power of ignorance. For the people have heard but do not believe.

            Jesus has given us yet another example of what faith looks like in the reality of life lived. He has shown us the power of faith in him and the Father, who are one. Now it is our turn to stand up in the face of adversity, for our faith and with our faith.

by David E. Gonzales

Follow me. 3rd Sunday of Easter

John 21; 1 – 19

           Last week’s readings we took a look at faith. In today’s Gospel reading Jesus asks for the ultimate show of faith. This is a faith that allows human beings to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Think about this for a minute; too follow the God incarnate, Messiah!

           Our Christ asks his disciples and thus he asks us; Follow me in works of charity, follow me in martyrdom, and follow me to the gates of heaven where my Father awaits longing to embrace your return home. Follow me even though you do not see me; follow me even though you cannot hear me, follow me in faith. Follow me in your life lived, a life lived in love.

           Throughout the Gospels Jesus uses a lot of parables and imagery when he speaks to his disciples, but here the message is laid out before them in a candid manner.

Will you? Can you? Are you? Following me…          

by David E. Gonzales

Faith, that’s what it’s all about! Second Sunday of Easter

Acts, 5; 15

Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.

John, 20; 29

            Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

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“Grace and freedom, God’s free initiative and the free human response of acceptance, comprise the mystery of faith.”¹

           In today’s readings faith is the object of our attention. In the reading from the Act of the Apostles, faith is the reason for the healing and conversion of the multitudes. This reading also shows us the example of community strength in action. Remember when Jesus could barely perform miracles in his own home town because of the lack of faith by the people. (Mat, 13; 58)  Here, the faith of the community is so strong that even the shadow of Peter cured the sick. The story presented here is a real example of what faith can accomplish in the here and now and how faith should be expressed by the faithful.

           In the Gospel reading, Thomas’ “prove it” attitude is the example given to all Christians on what faith isn’t. This Gospel reading defines faith more clearly. This is a faith we call conviction and trust. This faith is a considered and firm acceptance of a God and the promise of God. To use the verbiage from a current commercial, “it’s not all willy-nilly”, real faith is steadfast, especially when it’s not convenient or popular.

            Yes, today’s readings are teaching through example the absolute necessity to live our lives with faith, and in faith. We must understand that we live in an imperfect world and that our lives will be imperfect, but we need to live our lives with faith and with an ever continuous attempt to understand our lives as a relationship with God. And our relationship with God, through Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit is what our faith is all about.

Scripture is from the NABRE

1 – Encyclopedia of Catholicism; by Richard P. McBrien

by David E. Gonzales