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April 25, 2024Reflection for Fifth Sunday of Easter: April 28, 2024
Acts 9:26-31: Today, we reflect upon one of the most amazing conversion stories in the history of the Church; namely, the Conversion of St. Paul. It’s no surprise that people had a difficult time believing that one of the Church’s most violent and feared persecutors could become one of its most ardent supporters and evangelists! It would have been a huge hurdle of doubt and mistrust that would have to be overcome.
Let’s reflect this week on how, even now, new converts want to convince those who matter to them, that they’re earnest and sincere in their transformation. What will it take for significant others to trust in and believe in their sincerity? It will take time… and great effort, on the convert’s part, to consistently and convincingly “live the faith!” I think that’s reasonable; don’t you? Changing a reputation takes time!
Psalm 22: “I will praise You, Lord, in the assembly of Your people.” Appropriately, in today’s psalm, we reflect upon how we live out our faith… at least, partially; in the community. When we attend Mass and liturgies, (or public prayer services), we profess our faith in God, and adoration of God, in front of witnesses. When we give witness to our faith, in the presence of one another, we affirm and strengthen one another’s faith. The Holy Spirit accomplishes great things when we live out our faith practices together! There’s no more powerful witness to the faith than silent reverence shown by people during the liturgies of the Mass and during other Sacraments and ministries.
This psalm also evokes the great “public witness” that will occur at the assembly of all people; living and deceased, at the last Judgment. May we be a great inspiration to one another!
1 John 3:18-24: John adds a profound illustration of how we can most effectively live out our faith publicly. John encourages us, as Jesus did, to demonstrate our faith and sincere conversion by the way we show love for others. This explains John’s instructions to love “in deed and in truth;” as preferable to doing so, in speech. Loving “in deed” means that we show our love and concern for others by our actions. We give generously of our time, talents and resources. Loving “in truth” means that we must be sincere and authentic in our efforts to demonstrate love for others. It must never be “for show” or to enhance one’s own reputation.
We must ever pray to be filled with Jesus’ own “quality” of love! Then it will be easier to unite our will with His Will.
John 15:1-8: Complementing and completing the above reflection, we now meditate about our need to be “plugged in” to Jesus, as branches are life-sustained by the “vine” to which they depend for their very life. In order to be truly loving, we have to submit our will, to Jesus’ Will. That requires honest self-surrender. We have to truthfully acknowledge our complete dependence upon our triune God as our only Source of Life and Salvation. With our faith-decision and lived-out commitment comes the consequent peace and serenity that will convince even ourselves of the gift and grace that our love is; both for ourselves and for others. Yes, it is true… even the love we have for others is a gift from God for us! What joy comes from feeling Jesus’ loving others from within us!
We’re left awe-struck!
Deacon Matt
