THE FIRST EFFORTS AT ORGANISING THE CHURCH

V EASTER SUNDAY - Acts 14:21-27

During Easter time, in the liturgy of the word, we read the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Saint John. The Acts of the Apostles present the first steps of the Early Church, mainly the way she opened up to the Gentiles and the way she established herself. independently from the synagogue, building up communities that had at their centre the proclamation of the Gospel and the celebration of the Eucharist.

The beginnings of the Church were very humble and took place mainly in Jerusalem. After receiving the Holy Spirit in the feast of Pentecost, the Apostles engaged themselves with enthusiasm in the preaching of the Gospel and they managed to get a big following very quickly. This success brought them into conflict with the leaders and they suffered persecution because of that. The persecution scattered many of the new converts and they took with them their faith in Jesus Christ. Wherever they went, they gave witness to the Good News of salvation, which was spreading like wildfire. Very soon, many gentiles believed in Jesus Christ and Antioch would become the centre of a new effort to take the message of the Gospels further and further. Paul and Barnabas were chosen to play the leading role and they excelled in their effort to make Jesus Christ known, believed, followed and loved. Wherever they went, they tried to establish communities of believers, who came to be known as Christians. Being rejected by the leaders of the synagogue, the Christians had to establish their own communities, which were centred on Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. From the liturgy of the synagogue, they kept the reading of the Scriptures, which were understood as leading to Jesus Christ. And certainly, they learned a lot from the structures and the organisation of the synagogue.

This Sunday’s first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, informs us that, before going back to Antioch in order to report on their mission, they visited the disciples, “encouraging them to persevere in the faith”. Then, “in each of these churches, they appointed elders” so that each Christian community could have the basic structures to function, that is, to bear witness to Christ, to proclaim his gospel, to instruct in the faith (catechesis) and to celebrate the faith in communion with all the communities, helping each other to excel in love, fulfilling Christ’s commandment. The appointment of the elders was of paramount importance for the newly created communities and, recognising that Paul and Barnabas organised a time of prayer and fasting, knowing very well that the communities and their leaders should be entrusted to the Lord. Having done that, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch and presented a report of their work to the community that had sent them.

THE DOORS ARE OPEN TO ALL

IV EASTER SUNDAY - Acts 13:14,43-52

In this passage of the Acts of the Apostles, we find the pattern of Paul’s preaching, which he would always follow. Sent by the community of Antioch in a mission to proclaim the Gospel, wherever they arrived, Paul and Barnabas would go first of all to the synagogue. Since there was an established network of Jewish communities spread throughout the Roman empire, they could go to the synagogue and easily find people that would welcome them. In the synagogue, the centre of all Jewish communities, they made the first announcement of the Gospel of Jesus, proclaiming that he is the Messiah. A few would welcome their preaching, but a good number would consider them as troublemakers, rejecting their message and expelling them from the synagogue. Faced with this rejection, Paul and Barnabas would turn toward the Gentiles: “… since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans.” It is as if they were pushed out of Jewish communities and forced into a new unchartered road. Paul’s ability to carry out his mission was facilitated by the fact that he was able to look after himself and to get enough money to provide for himself and for some of his companions. As the number of gentiles who accepted the gospel grew, he could use the pattern of the Jewish community organisation, thus establishing little by little new communities based on the faith in Jesus Christ and not on the Law of Moses. Certainly Paul and all the other disciples made good used of the experience they had of the Jewish communities, and so they started organising themselves, putting up the basic structures: choosing elders to preside the community, supervisors to make sure that the communities maintained their communion and celebrating the Eucharist (the breaking of the bread) during the weekly community gathering. The weekly celebration of the Eucharist on the day of the Lord (Sunday) was preceded by the reading of the Scriptures, which formed the framework for the understanding of the role of Jesus as the Messiah.

This Sunday is the Good Shepherd Sunday, dedicated to the vocations. We may look to Paul and learn with him, so that we may be faithful to our vocation, never getting tired of giving witness to Jesus Christ.

THE PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

III EASTER SUNDAY - Acts 5:27-32,40-41

In the Acts of the Apostles, we find the narrative of the first persecution, when the Apostles were put in prison and then forbidden to speak in the name of Jesus. As they refused to obey such an order, they were flogged. As they left, “they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of the name” (Act 5:41), that is Jesus’ name. Since the very beginning, plenty of Christians have suffered violence, torture and death, having committed no other crime than to be followers of Jesus Christ. For the Christians, the cross is not a symbol of power, but of suffering and persecution. Throughout the centuries, we always find Christians who are ready to associate themselves with the cross of Jesus, sharing his passion and his death. Nowadays, Christians are being persecuted in many countries. 

In countries dominated by communist dictatorships, like North Korea and China. And in countries of Muslim majority, like Pakistan, Iran, South Arabia, Afghanistan. Even in countries that seem moderate, like Egypt and Turkey, Christians have no freedom to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In many countries of the world, Christians are becoming victims of vicious hatred and nobody speaks for them. The world ignores their suffering, doing nothing to denounce this unjust persecution. When on Easter Sunday there was an attack on three churches in Sri Lanka, some politicians  could not mention the Christians (who were the majority of the victims) and belittled them calling them "Easter worshipers." Even in this Europe of Christian roots, most politicians are ashamed of mentioning Christ or of associating themselves with Christian symbols. The martyrs of Sri Lanka were slaughtered on the most sacred and festive day of the Christian calendar with the declared aim of sending a message that the feast of the infidels should end. 

We cannot forget our brothers and sisters who are being tortured and killed because of their faith in Jesus Christ, receiving worse treatment than criminals. They need our solidarity and our voices to speak for them and to defend their human rights. The world needs to understand that faith in Jesus Christ is not a crime and true faith in Jesus Christ puts us at the service of humanity.

We may ask ourselves what gives Christians the courage and the strength to stick to their faith, in spite of all the hardships, difficulties and persecutions. Today’s gospel gives the answer: like Simon Peter, they have experienced Christ’s love and they cannot depart from it any more. At the end of his Gospel, John presents a final question - the question that Jesus asked Peter: “Do you love me more than these?” It is a question that cannot remain without answer. And if in spite of our weaknesses and shortcomings, we can say yes, then it means that we have discovered and experienced Jesus’ love for us and we cannot live without it. Knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, the Christians are ready to endure the cross for the sake of Jesus.

Let us pray for all Christians that suffering persecution. May the Lord give them strength and perseverance. And may the world recognise the pain and the suffering unjustly inflicted upon thousands of Christians. They are suffering in union with Christ’s passion and with their suffering, they cooperate with Jesus in the salvation of the world.

MY LORD AND MY GOD!

II EASTER SUNDAY - John 20:19-31

That Sunday - the first day of the week - was an extraordinary Sunday by all accounts. Early in the morning, it was discovered that the body of Jesus was not anymore in the tomb and such a finding left the disciples very much upset. Who could have taken Jesus’ body? The women reported to Peter and he with another disciple went there to check for himself. And they were surprised by the order and harmony which they found, interpreting that as a sign of the resurrection. Then, throughout the day, several people reported experiences of the Risen Christ. He appeared to Mary of Magdala, to Peter, and those two disciples going to Emmaus walked with him, received from him the interpretations of the Scriptures that spoke about him and recognised him in the breaking of the bread. Then, in the evening of that same day, the disciples were gathered together and Jesus came in to be present in their meeting. After greeting the disciples, Jesus entrusts them with the same mission he had received from the Father and, in order to carry out that mission, he gives them the Holy Spirit, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, they will be able to exercise the ministry of reconciliation, forgiving sins. This passage of the gospel makes it clear to us that the forgiveness of sins is central to the role of the Church, so that she may bring people back to God and reconcile them with Him. 

Since Pope St. John Paul II, this Sunday is celebrated as the Sunday of Divine Mercy, so that we may recognise, accept and celebrate God’s mercy, who is always ready to accept us and to welcome us back. He never closes the door on us, because he is the loving who cannot forget or forsake his beloved children.

The second half of this Sunday’s gospel reading presents the figure of Thomas, the Twin. He had absented himself from the community meeting and then did not believe in the testimony of his friends. Thomas’ attitude represents well our modern man, dominated by a positivist attitude, accepting only what can be seen and touched, weighed and measured. Any conclusion or affirmation of truth must be based on experiment, repeated over and over again, following a specific and well-controlled method that always produces the same result, a result that can be measured and verified. Our age is dominated by a scientific spirit in which doubt, interrogation and search are essential, and any conclusion that is not the fruit of such research effort is looked upon with contempt. Thomas wants to check before believing, without realising that there is no need for belief on what has been seen and touched. We should be reminded that the most profound things in life are difficult to touch, weigh and measure. If we pay attention to the signs of life, we may come to an inner certainty about a God that reveals himself. This is an experience that each one gas to do for himself, and that must be shared and lived in community. Having met the Risen Christ, we cannot remain silent; like the apostles, we must give witness that he is risen and is alive. We must listen to him  as he reassures us, presenting himself as the Living One:

“Do not be afraid; 

it is I, the First and the Last; 

I am the Living One, 

I was dead and now I am to live 

for ever and ever, 

and I hold the keys of death 

and of the underworld.” (Rev 1:17-18)

With Thomas, we can proclaim our faith, saying:

“My Lord and my God!”

THE LORD HAS RISEN, HALLELUJAH

EASTER SUNDAY - John 20:1-9

The resurrection is part of the mystery of life, which is entangled with the mystery of being, that is the mystery of God, a mystery which goes far beyond our understanding and of which we may see only a glimmer of light. We cannot have full proof of God’s existence and action, but time and again we find plenty of signs that direct us to him. If we pay attention to them, they become overwhelming.

The Risen Christ - on a tomb in my home Parish Church - Tarouca.

The passage of the gospel of John which we read on Easter Sunday starts by putting forward a fact which was verified by witnesses of different background and interests: early in the morning of the first day of the week - that is Sunday - it was discovered that the tomb was empty, that is Jesus’ body was not in the sepulchre anymore. Mary of Magdala got very worried when she discovered that fact and the first thought that came to her mind was that someone had taken away the body of Jesus. She was ready to do anything in her power to find the body. In the gospel of Matthew, we are informed that the guards were instructed to spread the lie that the disciples had stolen the body during the night. So, it is a fact that Sunday morning the body of Jesus was not anymore in the tomb. The possibility of the resurrection did not occur to the disciples, even though Jesus had spoken about it.

Having found the tomb empty, Mary of Magdala reported the fact to the leaders and Peter with the beloved disciple went to the tomb in order to check the facts. Indeed, the body of Jesus was not there, but the beloved disciple was surprised by the order and the harmony that he found. Everything was in the right place. For sure, there was no robbery and nobody had taken away the body in a hurry. There was no messing up. And something clicked in the disciple’s mind: he saw the signs and it dawned on him that Jesus had risen. The gospel summarises it in a very short sentence: “he saw and he believed”. Jesus was alive indeed. He rose from the dead. Touched by the signs, the disciple was able to believe and to make the experience of the Risen Lord.

Let us rejoice with all the disciples who have met with Jesus Christ and who have experienced him alive. And with all the Church, let us sing “Hallelujah”.

           Yangeni Singers from Lubengele Parish, Chililabombwe, Zambia.

I wish everybody a happy and blessed Easter.

O LORD, DO NOT LEAVE ME ALONE

PALM SUNDAY - Luke 22:14-23:56

With his disciples, Jesus was pressing on ahead to Jerusalem. He had to in time for the great feast of Passover. From all over Palestine and beyond, there were many people walking towards Jerusalem who formed crowds, as they approached the holy city. Recognising Jesus, who had become famous as a healer, a miracle worker and a prophet, many joined in, acclaiming him as the Messiah, ”the King who comes in the name of the Lord” and who will bring peace and give glory to God. The Pharisees, who heard the cry of the crowds, got alarmed because the Romans could understand those words as treacherous and the exact punishment on everybody. In order to prevent such reaction from the Roman authorities, they asked Jesus to rebuke his disciples. Jesus refused to do so because he should be recognised as the Messiah (Christ) and glory should be given to God. However, he did not enter Jerusalem as a powerful king, mounted on his horse and surrounded by his armies. He went in like a humble servant, riding a young donkey, which would not signal danger to anyone. In spite of that, Jesus would be arrested in Jerusalem, accused of proclaiming himself as king of the Jews, thus preparing a revolt in order to get independence.

With Palm Sunday, we initiate the Holy Week, a week set apart for the remembrance of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. After the solemn entrance with the palms, we read the passion according to the Gospel of Luke (since we are in year C). The events narrated in the Passion took place in less than twenty-four hours, and all of them on Friday, following the Jewish calendar, in which the day began at sunset. Late in the evening, when it was already dark, Jesus had the Last Supper with the Apostles. Then, they went to Mount of Olives to pass the night. While the apostles went to sleep, Jesus went to pray and during his prayer, he felt enormous anguish and fear, because he was aware that the tragic moment of his passion and death was close. And in the dark of the night, a group of men, guided by Judas, the traitor, fell upon him and arrested him “and they took him to the high priest’s house”. Most of the Apostles run away. Peter followed behind, but confronted by some servants, he denied to be a companion of Jesus or even to know him. Jesus was alone, without anybody to stand by him or to speak in his favour. There, he was abused and insulted. Then, early in the morning, the religious trial took place before the council of the elders of the people, presided by the high priest and he was found guilty of blasphemy, which carried with it the death penalty. Without wasting time, they took him to Pilate, the Roman governor, so that they could have him crucified. However, to the governor, they presented a political accusation, an accusation of high treason against the emperor and the Roman state. Pilate appears to doubt about the truth of the accusation, but, in the end, he passed judgement and condemned Jesus to death on the cross. And they took him to the cavalry, carrying his cross (or the beam of the cross). Exhausted and weakened by the flogging that usually took place before a crucifixion, Jesus could not walk under the weight of the cross; so the soldiers grabbed Simon of Cyrene, a foreigner who was coming from the fields and forced him to carry the cross for Jesus. By middle morning, he was crucified and the first words that he pronounced on the cross were a plea for all those who were involved in his death: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.” One of the criminals asked for forgiveness and Jesus told him: “Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus’ final words were: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” By fifteen hours, he was dead.

On the cross, Jesus prayed Psalm 22:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

All who see me deride me.

  They curl their lips, they toss their heads.

‘He trusted in the Lord, let him save him;

  let him release him if this is his friend.’

Many dogs have surrounded me,

  a band of the wicked beset me.

They tear holes in my hands and my feet

  I can count every one of my bones.

They divide my clothing among them.

  They cast lots for my robe.

O Lord, do not leave me alone,

  my strength, make haste to help me!

I will tell of your name to my brethren

  and praise you where they are assembled.

You who fear the Lord give him praise;

  all sons of Jacob, give him glory.

  Revere him, Israel’s sons.

GO, AND FROM NOW ON SIN NO MORE

V SUNDAY OF LENT - Jn 8:1-11

Last week, we heard Jesus telling the story of the father with two children (mostly known as the parable of the prodigal son). It is a nice story and we can question ourselves about its practical implications. In this Sunday’s gospel, we have a real story - the story of the woman caught in adultery, being judged and condemned by the Pharisees and the scribes, who behave like the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son. Jesus with his mercy and compassion refuses to condemn her and gives her the opportunity to repent and to convert. By doing so, he shows the Father (God)’s mercy in action.

As we read this passage (or hear it being read - Jn 8:1-11), we are called to reflect upon it and see the implications for our lives.

1. Adultery is an infidelity which many times destroys the relationship in marriage. In ancient times and in many traditional cultures, it was considered a crime and many times it was punished with death. In our modern societies, that is unthinkable; however, we need to be aware that it is no so in all cultures, even today. In the Law of Moses, the cultural practice of punishing adultery with death is presented as God's law: "If a man commits adultery with his neighbour's wife, an adulterer and an adulteress shall be punished with death." (Leviticus 20:10, see also Dt 22: 22-24). 
2. Hearing the passage of the woman caught red-handed, we should be surprised that the woman was arrested alone and an obvious question comes to mind: what happened to the man who was with her? How did they allow him to get away? The willingness to punish the woman alone indicates serious discrimination, even against the letter of the law, which imposed the same punishment on both of them. In fact, in such situations, the weak and the poor are the ones who suffer, while the rich and the powerful manage to get away. We may remember the case of Judah (Gn 38:24) and the case of David who committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11,4). 
3. The law plays an indispensable role in society, regulating human behaviour and facilitating the establishment of order and peace. However, when the law becomes absolute, it crushes the weak and the vulnerable, presenting a vengeful dimension over those who break it. The law does not contemplate the possibility of reform and conversion. And those who defend the law at all costs, thinking of themselves as righteous and just, end up doing or accepting summary executions and even mob justice which easily leads to lynchings, forgetting that they are sinners as well. 
4. Jesus showed towards the woman the love, affection, compassion and mercy of the Father who welcomed the returning son. We may get the idea that for Jesus "anything goes”, but it is not so since Jesus called her to conversion. Jesus knew that to feel loved, forgiven, accepted and recognised, gives the possibility of finding a new direction, of changing course and starting anew. Jesus refused to condemn the woman, giving her a second opportunity, the opportunity to redeem herself. We are human, and we go easily astray. However, we must be prepared to offer and to receive forgiveness, making reconciliation possible.