Sixth Sunday of Easter A  May 29, 2011

Acts 8:5-8,14-17  Psalm: 66:   1 Peter 3:15-18   John 14:15-21

1. We are approaching two great events,  the feast of the Ascension and the Pentecost: the descent of the Holy Spirit. We have early signs of these two great feasts. Jesus had said to his Apostles, I am going to leave you. The Apostles were rightfully discouraged. But he gave them two messages of consolation. First if he left, he could send them the Holy Spirit (Pentecost). Secondly, they would do all the wonders that Jesus himself had done, and even greater things than he had done.

2. In our first reading we see Philip, one of the seven deacons doing wonders in Samaria. Philip is doing all the wonders that Jesus himself had done:

• paralysed were cured
• demons were expelled
• the lame could walk
• people were in awe at the signs and at the good news

The second remarkable aspect of Philip’s work, was the place where this occurred: Samaria.

3. Jesus had commanded his Apostles to preach the good news beginning in Jerusalem, and spreading through Samaria, Judea and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) Now that mandate was being fulfilled. Furthermore, Samaria was considered as non-kosher in the Jewish community. They were not even considered to be Jews by some. But now in the new order of things, every one was welcome. Jesus himself had started this trend as related in John 4, when Jesus started a dialogue with the Samaritan woman. She had remarked, “How is it that you, a Jew talks to a Samaritan” But salvation is for all and hence the response to this reading is Psalm 66: “Make a joyful song to God all the earth.”

4. The Letter of Peter was originally a baptismal instruction. But it took on then and takes on today a different application according to our times . The newly baptised were thrilled with their reception, as our RCIA candidates today. However, as Christians, the cross, persecutions and trials were par for the course. They were told “always be ready..” However the persecution came all too quickly and the possible cross became an actual one.

 The world has large sections that are not open, that are even hostile to the command of Jesus, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Peter reminds us that Christ suffered for this command. The command to love has no exceptions: - all are included, the Samaritans in his time, and those we consider Samaritans in our age: the Muslims, certain ethnic groups, the Pro-choice group, the Unwed Mothers, the Gays.  When we label some people as the Samaritans of our time, it tells us more about ourselves than the ones on whom we put these labels.

5. And so the letter of Peter shows us the Way of proceeding. The word of God cannot and will not be received with force and power. It was tried during the centuries of the Crusaders. That story has always been a black mark in Church History. The motives were good. Their hearts were in the right place. Their way of proceeding was all wrong. The Kingdom of God then and now, will never be built on violence, hatred or so called righteous anger. Peter will tell us that it has to be proclaimed with gentleness and reverence.

 Many Christians are still filled with the so-called righteous anger. Many are still ruled with an “eye for an eye” ethic. They see Christians persecuted in some Muslim countries. They hear stories of Christian churches being torched and set on fire. They think retaliation is the only way to show the strength of the Christian Faith. So the Koran is burnt in public, triggering a further circle of violence and death. They are trying to douse a fire with kerosene!

6. Our Gospel is a minor treatment of the working of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that gives us the Understanding, the Wisdom and the Strength to the Baptised in those days, and to us today.  It reminds me of a verse I learnt when trying to study French.

Seigneur, tu m’a pris, par la main,

Je vais, avec toi, sin effroi

Jusqu’a but du chemin

In a word the Lord gives me strength on this journey (of life).  The work of the Holy Spirit goes a full circle.

• Jesus tells us that our love for him means keeping the commandments.
• The Father sends us the Advocate because of Christ’s prayer for us.
• This Advocate will live in the community (our Pentecost.)
• The early Christian community expected an immediate second coming of Christ – the Holy Spirit, the Advocate was precisely this immediate return.
• The Advocate inspired the Community to keep the commandments of Christ. 

This circle reinforces the community. The community will witness the Love of God to the World. This is done as St. Peter tells us in the second reading with gentleness and reverence.