Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C-2022

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Upset, Dismay, Annoy, Distress

Jesus is the peace between natives and foreigners, whites and blacks, men and women. One, then, need not be upset by the other.

Jesus says good-bye at length to his disciples. For he wants them to keep their faith in him; he does not want trials to upset them.

No, he does not want to see his own in distress or to fall away. That is why he readies them even for the hour when they will lose their lives. For those who hate them will think that to kill them means to give worship God to (Jn 16, 2).

That is how excessive and single-minded not a few can be that they force on others their beliefs. At least those who think that Christians should be circumcised do not go to such extreme. Still, they upset and trouble Christians who were pagans once; they bring in polarization.

And these fanatics do not only upset the Christians in Antioch; they also trigger strife. And it comes as no surprise that their quarrel with Paul and Barnabas turns heated. After all, Paul is just as strong-minded as they; he calls them false brothers who come in by stealth as spies (Gal 2, 4). Yes, he was at one time breathing out threats and murder against Christians (Acts 9, 1).

In the end, though, the conflict gets solved; cooler heads carry the day. But what makes reason win and brings peace and mutual knowledge is love.

To love means to get to know, to not be upset nor to upset others.

Jesus tells his disciples that those who love him will keep his word, and his Father will love them. And he and his Father will come to them and make their home with them. The corollary of this first teaching, of course, is the second, which is that those who do not love Jesus do not keep his word. And he further makes clear that his word is more the word of the Father who has sent him than his.

But both sayings answer why Jesus will show himself to the disciples but not to the world (Jn 14, 22). Hence, the answer seems to say that to love Jesus is to know him as he makes himself known. To grasp and to keep his words.

Those who love Jesus also gets to know his Father and feel his love strongly. To delight too in Jesus and his Father making their home with them.

This inner life with Jesus and with his Father in the Holy Spirit is crucial. For if we do not enjoy it, we will not know either the peace that Jesus gives. Dismay will be ours, rather, and we will shake with fear. We will not know what Jesus has taught nor will we keep it in mind. And joy will be beyond our reach.

It is crucial besides that we have this inner life if we humans are to know one another better and deeply. If we are to respect one another, no matter our nationality, race, language or religion. If we are to stay one, sharing in the body and blood of Christ. For love is above all rules (SV.EN X:478). Above all the laws of Moses even. Above all outer human traits too.

Lamb of God, give us your peace and the love that knows no fear nor bounds (1 Jn 4, 18; 1 Cor 13, 7). And grant that no trial will dismay us and that we do not upset our neighbor. Make us live by your death, die by your life; let us hide in you and be full of you (SV.EN I:276).


22 May 2022

Sixth Sunday of Easter (C)

Acts 15, 1-2. 22-29; Rev 21, 10-14. 22-23; Jn 14, 23-29


VERSIÓN ESPAÑOLA

Alarmar, inquietar, molestar, preocupar

Jesús es la paz entre nativo y forastero, entre blanco y negro, entre hombre y mujer. Uno, por lo tanto, no se tiene que alarmar por el otro.

De modo detenido se despide Jesús de sus discípulos. Es que los quiere firmes en la fe en él; no quiere que se dejen alarmar por las pruebas.

No, él no quiere ver a los suyos perder la calma ni tropezar. Aun los prepara para la hora en que se les quite la vida. Pues los que los odian se convencerán de que con ello darán culto a Dios (Jn 16, 2).

Son así de apasionadas o tenaces de forma desmedida no pocas personas de tal modo que imponen sus creencias a los demás. Menos mal que no llegan a tal extremo los que creen que los cristianos se han de circumcidar. Pero aún así, no dejan de alarmar e inquietar a los cristianos que se han convertido del paganismo; introducen la polarización.

Y no solo logran esos fanáticos alarmar a los cristianos de Antioquía. Pues provocan un conflicto también. Y no es de sorprender que les resulte fuerte el debate con Pablo y Bernabé. Pablo, después de todo, es tan tenaz como ellos; los llama falsos hermanos que entran de modo furtivo como espías (Gál 2, 4). Sí, respiraba él antes amenazas de muerte contra los cristianos (Hch 9, 1).

Al fin, empero, se resuelve la disputa; se calman las pasiones y gana la razón. Pero lo que más que nada lleva a que reine la razón y haya paz y conocimiento mutuo es el amor.

Amar quiere decir llegar a conocer, no dejarse alarmar ni alarmar a los demás.

Dice Jesús a los discípulos: «El que me ama guardará mi palabra y mi Padre lo amará, y vendremos a él y haremos morada en él». Y de este primer dicho sigue por la lógica el segundo. A saber, el que no le ama no guardará sus palabras. Aclara él también que toda palabra que dice no es suya, sino del Padre que le ha enviado.

Pero ambos dichos son la respuesta a la pregunta: «¿A qué se debe que vayas a revelarte nada más que a nosotros y no al mundo?» (Jn 14, 22). La respuesta, por lo tanto, da a entender que hay que amar a Jesús para lograr conocerle como se da a conocer él. Para poder captar y guardar sus palabras.

Se les concede también a los que aman a Jesús conocer a su Padre y palpar su amor. Y saborear la presencia íntima en ellos de Jesús y de su Padre.

Esa vida interior con Jesús y con el Padre en el Espíritu Santo es decisiva. Es que si no gozamos de ella, no conoceremos tampoco la paz como nos la da Jesús. Temblaremos más bien y cobardes nos quedaremos. No conoceremos lo que ha dicho Jesús ni lo recordaremos. Y la alegría nos resultará no alcanzable.

Nos es decisiva además esa vida interior para conocernos mejor y de modo más íntimo unos a otros. Para lograr respetarnos unos a otros, seamos de la nación, raza, lengua, religión que sea. Y para permanecer unidos, partícipes del cuerpo y la sangre de Cristo. Pues el amor está por encima de todas las reglas (SV.ES IX:1125). Aun de todas las leyes de Moisés. Por encima también de todos los rasgos humanos exteriores.

Cordero de Dios, danos tu paz y el amor que no conoce temor ni límites(1 Jn 4, 18; 1 Cor 13, 7). Y concédenos no alarmarnos por prueba alguna ni alarmar al prójimo. Haz que vivamos por tu muerte, muramos por tu vida; déjanos estar ocultos en ti y llenos de ti (SV.ES I:320).


22 Mayo 2022

6º Domingo de Pascua (C)

Hch 15, 1-2. 22-29; Apoc 21, 10-14. 22-23; Jn 14, 23-29