A New Commandment: Reflections on the Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Cycle C

Acts 14:21-27
Psalm 145
Revelation 21:1-5a
John 13:31-33a, 34-35

The Book of Acts of the Apostles deals mostly with the activities of Peter and Paul, although other apostles and other significant disciples (such as Barnabas in today’s reading) are occasionally mentioned. Some have said that “Acts of the Holy Spirit” would be a more appropriate name for this book as throughout we see the Spirit at work through the apostles. In chapter two we read about the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and how that changed the apostles greatly. They went from a timid group hiding in the upper room to bold proclaimers of the gospel.

We see the Holy Spirit at work in today’s reading as Paul and Barnabas made many disciples before returning to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, where “They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, ‘It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.’” Paul had good reason to talk about hardships as he had just been stoned and left for dead in that previous city. Trials and hardships were a fact of life for Christians, as they are still today. “In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

We also see the Spirit at work in their appointment (ordination) of elders for the churches. Returning to Antioch they told of their work and how God “had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” Recall earlier in Acts when Peter brought Cornelius (the first Gentile convert) and his family into the Church remarking “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?” (Acts 10:47)

In the responsorial psalm we also see what might be a reference to the Gentiles, “Let them make known Your might to the children of Adam.” “Children of Adam” encompasses all of mankind. In this hymn of praise we hear of God’s mercy and that He is slow to anger. In several other places we are told that God’s time is different from ours. “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” (Ps 90:4) This is great news as it means that God is giving us time to repent. “The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

It is thus fitting that we should praise His name forever.

In the reading from Revelation we learn that God “makes all things new.” John’s vision includes “a new heaven and a new earth” as well as a new Jerusalem. The new holy city is “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband,” much as the Church is the bride of Christ. And, as a bride is united with her husband, the new Jerusalem will be united with God. Even in the Old Testament we see references to the Israelites being the bride of God (e.g., Isaiah 62:5). For this reason the failure of Israel to follow God by worshipping other gods and idols was looked upon as an act of adultery.

The reading continues, “He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God.” Several times we read in the Old Testament where God said, through the prophets, “I will be their God and they shall be my people.” (e.g., Jeremiah 31:33) The Ignatius Study Bible notes that this statement “reaffirms the covenant between the Lord and Israel, who are bound together ... as a bridegroom to his bride. Scholars designate such statements of mutual belonging as the ‘covenant formula.’”

Then from the throne we hear, “Behold, I make all things new.” As St. Paul said in his first letter to the Corinthians, “For the world in its present form is passing away” (7:31).

The gospel reading is from John’s description of the events of the Last Supper. It picks up after the washing of the feet and right after Judas left into the darkness on his mission of betrayal (“And it was night”). Jesus is already distressed by this betrayal by one of His close followers. Perhaps he recognized Judas lack of love for anything but himself and so waited until he left before giving the Apostles the commandment to love one another. As God is love and Jesus’ entire mission and example, up to and including crucifixion, were steeped in love, so that would be the identifier for His followers. This was a summation of the Ten Commandments as well as a requirement from the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18) which Jesus referred to in Matthew 22 (often referred to as the “Greatest Commandment”). But now Jesus adds a new condition: “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” And this is how we will be known as disciples of Jesus, “... if [we] have love for one another.”

The first letter of St. John reiterates Jesus’ command to the disciples (and therefore to us also) along with the statement “God is love” (1 John 4:16). Mother Angelica in one of her EWTN programs noted that we humans have love, but God is Love! And so, by loving each other we not only emulate Christ but get closer to Him and the Father, with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

“It is not the person who rules over others as his slaves who is free, A free person expresses his love by freely placing himself in service to others, his brethren, as Christ did.”  Father Blachnicki