FROM THE PULPIT
REFLECTION ON THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A: SANCTIFY CHRIST IN YOUR HEARTS.
SCRIPTURE: John 14: 15-21; 1Peter 3:15-18; Psalm 66: 1-7, 16, 20; Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
Fr. Benoit Mukamba, CSSp
The Apostle Peter invites us to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts (1 Peter 3: 15). This exhortation to acknowledge Christ’s holiness in the inner self of each one of us is intended to lead us to discover and experience the love of Christ. As Disciples of Christ, we respond to his love with a holy obedience to his commands. It is Christ’s holiness that gives Christians both strength to share in the suffering of their Teacher patiently and courage to bear witness to their faith in the resurrection.
Indeed, the holiness of Christ ought to be lived and seen in our style of living. Each one of us, Christian, must always be ready to articulate our faith in Jesus in a way that speaks to others. Our good deeds cannot speak loud enough if we are not able to explain to others the reason for those works. They would be considered as simple humanitarian and altruistic acts. A Christian goes beyond what is humanitarian to the recognition of Christ’s present in the other. A Christian deed reflects the love of God manifested to us through Jesus Christ. It is in living a true Christian life that we will bear witness to our obedience to Christ and bring others to Christ. Philip, the deacon, preached the Gospel to the Samaritans and his word was confirmed by his deeds. We hear his story in the passage of the Acts of the Apostles [8: 5—8, 14-17].
Today’s Gospel, [John 14: 15-21], brings to clarity our lesson of sanctifying Christ by teaching us about love and obedience. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”.  In ordinary life, a child obeys one’s parents because he or she knows that the parents love him or her. In this line of thinking, obedience is a consequence of love while love remains the locomotive. Such is the love of God for us. Before we came to be in this world, God and his Son loved us. Out of God’s love, creation came to be. Again, while we were still sinners, the Father’s love sent the only begotten Son to redeem us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” [John 3:16], Jesus said to Nicodemus. Because God love us, so he sent his Son our redeemer. This connection between love and action entails the link between love and obedience.
The Apostle Paul, [Phil 2:6-11], describes Christ’s obedience to his Father unto death on the cross. Because of his obedience, God exalted him. Obedience to God isn’t just some kind of external act where we strive to do the right thing of somehow to earn God’s favor. Obedience flows from love, not an outward performance. Obedience is our reaction against temptation and sin. It is our victory over sin and temptation.  For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in us both to desire and to work. In our struggle to do Christ’s commands of love, we ought to reaffirm and assert the love God loves us.
Therefore, beloved of Christ, is there an area of your life that still resists obeying God. Is there a dimension of your life that does not acknowledge Christ’s love for you? Let us pray that Christ may help each one of us to recognize his tremendous love for you and me.