From the pulpit Fifth Sunday of Easter by Benoit Mukamba
-
FROM THE PULPIT
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR B
HOLY SCRIPTURE: Acts 9: 26-31; Psalm 22; 1John 3: 18-24; John 15: 1-8.
REFLECTION: Communion.
Fr. Benoit Mukamba, CSSp.
Today’s Gospel passage presents our Lord Jesus Christ as the vine and indeed the true vine. His followers, we, are the branches of the vine. Cut off from the vine, branches simply dry up and die because the life-giving and keeping, the milky sap can no longer flow from the vine into the branches. By this parable or imagery, Jesus draws our attention to the necessity of a strong bond between a disciple and Him and the Church. Such a relationship is both personal and communal. The best and familiar term to describe our relationship with Christ and the Church is “Communion”.
We normally talk of the meal at the Last Supper, the Eucharist as communion. The Church is understood as Communion of the faithful in the Lord. The word “communion” simply means a connection or relationship, especially one in which something is shared or communicated. Communion implies a shared feeling of emotional or spiritual closeness. As Church, we are a communion because we share the same faith, same doctrine and the same practices. We are one in faith, hope and love. We share the life of the Risen Lord. Every person who responds to the call of Jesus seeks to enter into communion with the Church.
Like Paul sought communion with the Apostles during his visit to Jerusalem after his conversion so does every person who has received the gift of faith in Jesus Christ. However, some receiving communities may act in contradiction to their own mission. The first reading (Acts 9: 26-31) illustrates the reactions and concerns of the Church in Jerusalem, fear and suspicions toward Saul/Paul. Reactions, that we, too, may experience; but we could overcome our selfish interests with an open spirit and a heart of hospitality.
Like Barnabas, we are called to facilitate entries in the communion; we are agents of bringing about communion by welcoming, accepting, and involving new converts and new neighbors arriving from our other parishes, into belonging to our parish community. Every member in the communion needs to feel wanted in the community.
The Apostle John emphasizes true love to be more visible in doing good; and for it is in doing good we find true happiness and peace in our lives. Again, if we want to live in unity with God, we must believe in Christ and love the neighbor. When the Apostle John emphasizes love for a neighbor, he emphasizes love without hypocrisy or intrigue. It is unconditional charity, as he says; "Little children, let us not love the word, nor with tongue, but by deed and truth”. In this people will recognize us true branches of the vine. Our communion with the Lord Jesus has to unfold in the practice of faith, hope and love. By believing God and loving the neighbor, we testify that God dwells in us by the Spirit which he has given us. Personal and ecclesial communion with God bears fruits that God provides for our needs.
Therefore, let us pray that the Word and Sacraments we receive at this Mass be a life-giving milky sap from the true vine nourishing us to eternal life. May the gift of Christ Jesus enable us to be disciples in deed and word.