God never ceases to work in mysterious ways (HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK OF EASTER MAY 2023

Homily for Friday of the 5th Week of Easter. 

Acts 15:22-31. Psalm 57:8-9,10-12. John 15:12-17.

In the first reading, we have one of the very first canons of the Church: "For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell" (Acts 15:28-29).

The Church was wise in sending persons as well as the letter. Letter alone would at times not convey the message. Persons reading the letter and explaining its contents would bring the message home to the listeners! Likewise, the law of the Church needs to be explained.

God never ceases to work in mysterious ways. The pagan community in Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas ministered and to which Judas were sent to confirm with their words, what the Apostles wrote in the letter  was the first community where the early Church community were called Christians. God's ways are not our ways. He often uses the weak to shame the strong. The witness of the lives of the pagan converts showed them as true followers of Christ. Yet, those who thought of themselves as the authentic followers of Christ were not even recognised as such.

Therefore, let us love one another and not condemn anyone. God sees beyond what we are able to see. Some of those we we consider as the best of persons may be doing terrible things in secret, while those we see as evil may just be making their way secretly into God's kingdom.

For us to see things clearly for what they really are, Jesus in today's Gospel tells us what to do, that, "You love one another as I (Jesus) have loved you" (John 15:12).

To love our neighbour as ourselves (cf.Matt.22:39)  is demanding enough. More demanding is it, though, to love others as Jesus has loved us. The love of Jesus surpasses our comprehension. However, our limited understanding of his love tells us that his love is limitless and unconditional. His love does not consider whether we deserve it or not. Rather, it is concerned about lifting us from our condemned status as sinners to the highest status of children of God.

When we love the way Jesus loves us, this love will order our attitude towards everyone. It is God who makes the choice always. We never choose him, He chooses us.

May God grant us the grace to love one another as Jesus loves us through Christ our Lord. Amen.