Contents: Volume 2
6th SUNDAY
of
EASTER
(B)
- 5/5/2024
6th
Sunday
of
EASTER
2024 |
|
1. --
Lanie LeBlanc
OP
2. --
Dennis Keller
3. --
4. --(Your reflection
can be here!)
*****************************************************
1.
*****************************************************
6th Sunday
of Easter
2024
The readings this Sunday center of the theme of love. We read/hear the words of
Jesus: "This I command you: love one another." This is NOT a suggestion but a
command, and not an easy one, especially in the context of laying down our
lives!
What does that mean especially since there are many types of love? Let's look at
some closely related words for love such as appreciated, cared about, and
valued. Listing ways to think of others first and then yourself is a way to look
at how that view of love is received and given.
Everyone's list of characteristics of love will vary, but there are some things
in common. Near the top of the list is surely that the person showing love will
give the other time and attention. Now that is a pretty reasonable thing to
start with even with those people whom we find are hard to love.
Another top of the list item is probably that the person listens to the other
and tries to understand another's point of view or situation, even if there is
some disagreement in the air. That one is a lot harder but still possible if and
when we can be more interested than judgmental.
Then there is tough love. Setting firm boundaries in a carefully thought out way
is often a necessary way to think of the other person kindly as well as
yourself. All of these characteristics (and others as well from your own list)
indicate that the other is cared about and valued in ways that help us embrace
this command in many different situations.
One other thing... sometimes how someone else perceives love is very different
than the way we do. For instance, fixing things for someone might make that
someone feel loved, but for someone else NOT fixing things but allowing the
person to fix it independently might be what is needed and viewed as loving.
Love is tricky that way. That is why all love flows through the Holy Spirit. The
Holy Spirit makes the command to love possible... and keeps the world going
'round. Come, Holy Spirit!
Blessings,
Dr.
Lanie LeBlanc
OP
Southern Dominican Laity
lanie@leblanc.one
******************************************************
2.
******************************************************
Sixth Sunday
of Easter
May 5, 2024
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, & 44-48; Responsorial Psalm 98;
1St John 4:7-10; Gospel Acclamation John 14:23; John 15:9-17
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles starts midway in a narrative
about Cornelius, the God-fearing Centurion of the Italian cohort. Cornelius was
righteous, caring for the people he was charged to keep peaceful. His whole
household were almsgivers and God fearing as well. Peter, in Joppa, was in
prayer after resuscitating the righteous woman, Tabitha. Tabitha was a respected
woman in the community at Joppa. Her death caused universal grief in that
Christian community. She was known for making cloaks and shawls for widows among
other good works.
Peter falls into a trance. In his vision he sees a huge sheet descending from
heaven, containing all sorts of four-footed animals, birds of the air, and
snakes. Peter hears a command to slaughter and eat. Peter objects, saying that
never in his life has any common or unclean food passed his lips. Peter hears an
answer, “What God has cleansed you stop making unclean.”
Peter is summoned to the house of Cornelius in Caesarea. Peter understands the
message of the trance and his summoning. He understands associating with
Gentiles will not make him unclean. Peter puts this understanding in his words:
“God shows no partiality.” God does not judge by appearances: not the color of a
person’s skin, their language, their nationality, their socio-economic status.
All persons are God’s concern. In efforts to consider ourselves better than
others, we often judge by appearances. Rarely has it anything to do with
rational thought. Such judgments are hard wired in us through culture, through
tradition, through nurturing in family and community. Thus, racism and the
feelings of racial superiority continue. It takes divine power to overcome
racism, nationalism, cultural differences. The diversity we encounter can enrich
lives. Or it can produce a hubris that keeps us separate and off-putting. John’s
gospel, proclaimed this Sunday, teaches us to accept persons and cultures
different from our own. Diversity enriches lives. We must have a change of heart
to enjoy that enrichment.
Confirmation of the equality of even Roman occupiers opens followers of Jesus to
accept all nations as equal followers of the Lord. The story of Cornelius, his
family, relatives, and friends is completed by the Holy Spirit overshadowing all
who heard Peter’s preaching. They began speaking in tongues and glorifying God.
And so begins the evangelization of all nations as foretold in Isaiah.
In the Gospel, we learn what power overcomes the tendency to judge. Such
judgments focus on discovering what makes the other less than we. Discovering a
person’s flaws is an effort to ignore our flaws – even though the flaws
discovered in the other are often our flaws as well. If the flaws are
significant, we have a reason to hate, to create a scapegoat on which to heap
misfortunes, violence, crime and whatever is negative and failure in our living.
Thus, immigrants struggling to make a life for themselves and their families are
blamed for everything. Even though the facts deny the truth of such accusations.
Jesus gives us a command, a very straightforward demand for how to live. “As the
Father loves me, so I also love you. REMAIN IN MY LOVE.” There is no room in
Jesus’ love for hatred, for discrimination, for denial of dignity and worth to
anyone. Only love can thrive/survive in the Love Jesus extends to us. And the
love of Jesus is the love the Father has for Jesus. It is a love that is
committed to us even to the point of torture and death. To initiate this change
in our hearts, we must become mindful of the false judgment before we take
action on it. This takes a lot of practice and patience with ourselves.
The narrative in the first reading is the first step for the follower of Jesus
accepting those not circumcised. The fight isn’t over with these words of Jesus.
But for those who hear the words and take them to heart this is clearly the
opening salvo creating the Kingdom of Heaven. The question remains: are we
willing to be righteous as was Cornelius and his household. It is worthwhile and
effective, this fight with the counter kingdom of Satan.
Dennis Keller
Dennis@PreacherExchange.com
*****************************************************
3.
******************************************************
******************************************************
4.
******************************************************
Volume 2
is for you. Your thoughts, reflections, and insights on the next Sundays
readings can influence the preaching you hear. Send them to
preacherexchange@att.net.
Deadline is Wednesday Noon. Include your Name, and Email Address.
-- Fr.
John Boll,
OP
-- ABOUT DONATIONS --
If you would like to support this ministry, please send tax deductible
contributions to Jude Siciliano, O.P.:
Make checks payable to: Dominican Friars.
Mail to:
St. Albert Priory
3150 Vince Hagan Drive
Irving, Texas 75062-4736
Or, go to our webpage to make an online donation:
https://preacherexchange.com/donations.htm
-- REGULAR
INFORMATION ---
To UN-subscribe or Subscribe, email "Fr.
John J. Boll, O.P." <preacherexchange@att.net>
-- WEB PAGE
ACCESS --
-- Go to
https://www.preacherexchange.com Where you will find "Preachers'
Exchange," which includes "First Impressions" and "Homilías Dominicales,"
as well as articles, book reviews and quotes pertinent to preaching.
-- Also "Daily Reflections", and many
other resources.
A service of The Order of Preachers,
The Dominicans.
Province of St. Martin De Porres
(Southern Dominican Province USA)
P.O. Box 8129, New Orleans, LA 70182
(504)837-2129; Fax (504)837-6604
http://www.opsouth.org
(form revised 2020-09-23)
|