Once there was a Jew arguing with a Christian. “Your whole religion is based on ours,” the Jew said. “Why, you even took the 10 Commandments from us.” “We may have taken them,” said the Christian,“but you certainly can’t say we’ve kept them.” In this Sunday’s Gospel message, Christ teaches that what’s crucial is not just possessing the Commandments but KEEPING them: “Anybody who receives my Commandments and keeps them will be the one who loves me” (Jn. 14:23). The “doing” is the hitch. We may be able to know by heart the Lord’s Commandments but if we fail to live them, then they are nothing but empty words. For Christianity is not primarily a thing to be known, but to be done. We must “do” the truth that we know. For example, knowing the commandments “Thou shalt not kill or steal... Thou shalt not bear false witness or commit adultery” can be relatively easy. But it is quite different to go out and respect the life of others or be honest or be truthful or be faithful.
The same is true with CHARITY. As a Christian you should love your fellowmen. But how can you love someone who’s backbiting you or a neighbor who plays loud music till two o’clock in the morning? That’s why the famous Russian author Feodor Dostoevsky (1881) once said: “Charity in dreams is beautiful, but charity in practice is a harsh and dreadful thing. ”Jesus further says, “I will ask the Father and he will give you a Helper... that the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees nor knows him ” (Jn. 14:16). Perhaps, this is just the gift we need today – the Spirit of truth.
There are many lies in our world today – in business, in politics, in our advertising, in family evangelizers on TV, and even in our personal lives. We say yes, but we really mean no or “I don’t know.” Words are cheap. A priest relates how one time he was invited to be the “Guest of Honor” in a parish where he used to work for many years before. It was a happy reunion. The fired-up MC , an old politician in town, happened to introduce him thus: “Brothers and sisters, our guest for tonight does not need any introduction. As you very well know, he is our former pastor. He’s well-known to us all... Let me present to you...” He stuttered, his memory failing. Bending down to the guy beside him, he whispered, “What’s his name again?”
We need light and understanding. But as much as we want to use our heads, we often get lost in emotions. For instance, how often do we get into conflicts and hurt feelings because of our ‘amor propio’ or our uncontrolled temper? If we could only remain calm and reasonable, considering both sides of a question, we could solve most of our problems. And, as Christ says, “the truth will make you free.” The Cost of Discipleship: The way of Discipleship is privileged beyond any other. Jesus says: “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10; 10}. But discipleship is not an easy way. “If you wish to come after me,” Jesus also says,“ you must deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow me. For if you wish to save your life you will lose it, but if you lose your life for my sake you will save it” (Lk. 9, 23-24).
In this 6th week of Easter, on the 22nd, we celebrate the feast of St. Rita of Cascia. On the 26th, we have the memorial of St. Philip Neri; and on the 27th, it is the optional memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury. This is all for now, watch for the next bulletin...
God bless!
Your Priest – Servant and Parochial Administrator,
Fr. Reggie