St. John Guides us in Easter
Every Easter season we hear a lot from St. John during weekend Eucharistic celebrations. Throughout the seven weeks of this joyful season, we hear passages from the book of Revelation and the Gospel of John, both attributed to the one often referred to as the disciple Jesus loved.
Revelation is the last book of the library we call The Bible. It is a library because it is a collection of books with two major buildings – one old and one newer. We call those buildings Testaments. Both Testaments have sections of books, written at different times to different audiences by different authors with varying inspirations from God. Catholics classically refer to all scripture as The Inspired Word of God.
Undoubtedly, Revelation is the most difficult book of the entire library to understand. It is a series of dreams and visions that are deeply rooted in John’s experience of Jesus Christ and the early church. Like your dreams they are a mixture of reality, subconscious and conscious. However, the symbolism of his dreams articulatesand proclaims the impact and purpose of the early Christian movement. This is essential because it deflected the severe persecution those brave first Christians experienced. The coded and highly symbolic imagery of the book of Revelation was critical in inspiring believers and non-believers alike during such brutal persecution.
For us these centuries later, we can draw inspiration from the beautiful imagery and the passage we hear this weekend is an example. The city of Jerusalem is a metaphor for God’s kingdom, coming down from heaven with a radiance of precious stones with twelve gates, angels and foundation stones. Twelve is an unbelievably symbolic and foundational number for both the Old Testament people and Christianity.
Our Gospel passage, also according to John, occurs during the Last Supper and underscores a significant theme of John’s writings – Love. John tells us that love is shared in many forms – Peace, his Word, and the Holy Spirit. All three of these lead to another significant theme of John’s writings – belief.
Peace is Christ’s gift to be shared among us as a gift, not simply from us to each other, but as rooted in Jesus Christ. His word, not only in scripture, but in his mission is to be kept in our hearts. John promises us that the advocate, the Holy Spirit, will help us in this belief.
Memorial Day
On Monday, May 26, we remember all those who have given their lives for the cause and banner of freedom that we rest beneath every day of our lives. Remembering them is also a way of thanking them. Please convey your gratitude to the loved ones of anyone who has lost their life in the line of service or passed away. I am sure they will appreciate it.
Partners for Our Communities
Because of your UNBELIEVABLE generosity we are able to present to Partners for Our Communities over $76,000 in support for their mission as a result of this year’s Lenten Social Justice Project.
Questions at the end of my Homily
I have had requests to repeat the questions that I asked at the conclusion of my Homily last weekend so here they are:
1. Do you realize how much God is counting on you to continue the flow of Divine Human Love?
2. How does your love for others reflect your identity as a disciple of Jesus Christ?
These come from the new commandment that Jesus gives us rooted in the Gospel passage last weekend from John. Jesus states that people will know we are His disciples because of the ways we love each other.
Pentecost
We will conclude the Easter Season with another festive Pentecost weekend in 2 weeks. The Mass schedule for Pentecost weekend, June 7 and 8, is as follows:
Saturday June 7, 5:00pm Mass
Sunday, June 8, Masses at 7:30 and 10:00am. REMEMBER THE 9:00am AND 11:00am ARE COMBINED INTO ONE 10:00am Mass!!