5th Sunday of
Easter
April 8, 2013
John 13:31-33; 34-35
“…all will know that you are my
disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35)."
Few days ago, I engaged myself in
a discussion over the Facebook. The topics were stretching from the necessity
of religion to some scandals that rocked the Church. Standing on the other side
of the ring, representing Christianity, I was tempted to launch a frontal
attack. Yet, I might turn the discussion into a word war. Then, instead
bridging the river of differences, I might build up an ever-taller separation
wall. Thus, maintaining the attitude of listening, I dig out some grain of
truth. Eventually, I come up with this simple conclusion: ‘It is true that both
the good and not so good realities exist in our Church and the world. Now, it
is up to us to see them in more optimistic light or view them in rather
pessimistic way; to remain hopeful and repair the damages, or lose hope and
toss everything to a garbage can.'
Through years, I encounter some
people who left the Church and even turn against her. They see no future in the
Church because the Church herself has no future. Definitely we cannot simply
blame them for upholding a gloomy perspective. Part and parcel of the cause
lies on us, Christians! Some of us fail to become genuine Christians, and
unfortunately, some other people choose to zoom in on these failures. There are
hypocrites, thieves, sexual perverts and other scandal-makers inside the
Church. Mahatma Gandhi once famously said that he chose Christ but not the
Christians! His words point to the reality that Jesus taught love, but the some
British Christians exploited India.
Today’s Gospel is familiarly known
as the farewell discourse. Jesus made clear his will to his disciples before He
left His earthly life. When Jesus reminded us that we need to be recognized as
His disciples by loving others, Jesus passed a fundamental law. Graver than the
law of gravity! Other people see us, our attitudes, and from us, they come a
conclusion what kind of God we have. We project the image of our God since we were created in His image. Especially
for us, religious and clergy, people all the more want to know God through the
reflections of our conducts. Sadly, some priests fall into sexual-related issues.
Then, some people find no Christ in Christians.
I believe, however, it is not the
end. Today’s Gospel should re-energize us in following Christ. All of us fall
short in various aspects, but we are called not to lose hope and rise anew.
Church is indeed a congregation of sinners, but remember that a saint is once a
sinner. The only thing is they do not lose hope in God’s mercy. Pope Francis
starts his pontificate with a message that Church is not simply a social
organization, but it is a Christ-centered and Spirit-inspired people of God. In this new era of evangelization, I think,
though very important, it is not enough to understand the basic dogmas of our
faith. We are challenged to make ‘He’ whom we believe, a shining reality in our
midst, which sometimes is pessimistically dark. We need to love one another in a very concrete and radical way; including
to love those Christians who lost their hope and even people who now stand
against us.
Br.
Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP
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