Fifth Sunday of EASTER 21st May 2000

First: Ac 9:26-31; Second: 1 Jn 3:18-24; Gospel: Jn 15:1-8

THEME of the READINGS

"Remain in me as I in you," Jesus tells us in the Gospel. Unity is the dominating theme in this Sunday’s texts. Unity, first of all, among Christ, life, and Christians, who are the branches of the vine (Gospel). Unity among Christians, independently of their past history and their origin, as in the case of Paul (first reading). Unity between words and deeds, to achieve this inner unity of the conscience, which is fearless before God (second reading).

DOCTrinal MESSAGE

Foundational unity. In Judaism, life symbolized the difficult relations between God and his people across twelve long centuries. This relationship was especially based on three elements: the Land, the Torah and the Temple. On the columns of the Temple the vine was depicted, a symbol of the people of Israel present before Yahweh, their God. Jesus takes up this image once again, but he changes its meaning. Now he is the vine, not Yahweh. And the branches of the vine are no longer the people of Israel, but the believers in Christ. God, the Father of Jesus, is not left at the margin of the symbol, but now he is the vinedresser. In other words, it is the Father that sent Jesus into this world and has placed in him the foundations of all true unity. He is the point of union that founds any other true union between men, because "cut off from me you can do nothing." Any ecclesial, religious, political or family union that is to be qualified as true, stable and fruitful cannot ignore the reality of Christ, the key to all individual or collective existence. In this sense, Christianity is not only an option that calls for freedom; it is a necessity for identity and progress, which appeals to common sense.

Church unity. When after being converted Saul goes to Jerusalem, the Christians are afraid of him; they walk away from him because they cannot believe that he is converted. Thank God Barnabas takes charge of him and introduces Saul to the community, explaining how he was converted and how he preached fearlessly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. Saul is thus received by the community, he becomes part of it, and may freely devote himself to his evangelizing work, especially among the Jews of Greek origin. It is evident that from the very beginning, the Apostles became aware that there was only one Church, and that all those that formed it were united in the same faith and in the same ardent zeal to preach the name of Jesus everywhere. Although Paul converted himself to Jesus in Damascus and received baptism there, he is well received in Jerusalem, as he will also subsequently be in Antioch and in Rome, because there is only one Church in the diversity of places and cultures. It was so from the beginning, and so it has continued to be. As contemporary Christians, will we be capable of putting the unity of the Church above internal tensions? Will we be capable of putting ourselves in the position to have God grant us the gift of unity of all Christians?

Inner unity. In the second reading, Saint John says to us that "our love must not be just words or mere talk, but something active and genuine." There must be unity between what we say and what we really do. Without such unity, we shall be internally divided in an evil inconsistency that will gnaw away at our conscience. In other words, the Christian must have a unified conscience, without any splits or divisions, so that he may be fearless before God, by keeping the commandments and doing what pleases the Lord. It is true that the Christian does not always act in a consistent manner, and that his conscience stings and rebukes him for it. However, we know that God is greater than our conscience and that he can thus restructure it and unify it once again. It is a wonderful invitation to have confidence in God’s action and in the mysterious power of the Spirit that has given us inner unity, the fruit of our fidelity to the Word of God and to his commandments.

PASTORal SUGGESTIONS

United though different. First of all, unity within the Church. As Catholics, we must be emotionally and truly united, united with the ecclesial hierarchy, united among ourselves. United in the same goal and destiny, accepting and respecting the pluralism of pastoral options, preserving our substantial unity. Is it possible that there are dioceses and parishes that do not allow the action of groups approved by the authority of the Church? Isn’t it true that a lot may still be done to foster the cooperation between dioceses, parishes, religious congregations and ecclesial movements? The enemy is strong. If we do not unite, we are certainly bound to be defeated, having perhaps wasted much energy on useless questions or matters of little consequence. And the effective proclamation of the Gospel will be lost, and we shall be an occasion of scandal, more than edification. Let us love unity, let us seek unity, above and beyond all insubstantial differences.

To unity within the Church we must add the unity of the different, separated Christian communities: dialogue and ecumenical cooperation. It is a slow, but irreversible process, because more than men, it involves God himself, the Spirit that speaks to the Churches and uncontainably steers them towards unity. The steps that have been and continue to be taken are small but sure. We must forge an ecumenical mentality in ourselves, in our religious and parish communities... Unity is a great gift that God wishes to bestow upon us. Let us pray so that we may accept it with gratitude and love.

To bear fruit. United with the source of life and holiness that is Christ, united as brothers in the same faith and in the one true Church, at one with our conscience, we shall bear fruit. This is because union begets strength and effectiveness. And bearing fruit is an imperative of our faith, of our Christian vocation. What fruits? Certainly, and first of all, fruits of holiness, of spiritual richness in the heart, of divine transparency in our being and doing. Then, fruits of solidarity, cooperation, justice, mutual respect, self-giving to the neediest, charity, goodness in the way we treat others, etc. What are the fruits that God is asking of you now? What are the fruits that God asks of our parish, of our community? By the fruits we shall know if we are united with Christ, if we remain in his love.

Source: http://www.clerus.org/clerus/dati/2004-05/21-13/CICLOB.html by P. ANTONIO IZQUIERDO L.C. (1948-2013)

[참고: 이 파일은 저서명 "가톨릭 교회의 말씀 전례에 따른 성경공부 해설서"(엮은이: 소순태, 출판사: 가톨릭출판사)의 각주의 연장으로 마련되었습니다].