Contributed by Father Tim Uniac, C.R. Father Tim was ordained in 1986. Over the years Father Tim has served in parish ministry as both Assistant Pastor and Pastor. For a number of years he worked full time in youth ministry. He has served his Religious Community as Vocation Director and as Vicar Provincial. He also served his Community internationally as the Vicar General, residing in Rome for six years. Currently he is pastor of St. Francis Parish, Kitchener, Ontario. Introduction to the Word: FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER April 29, 2018 GATHERING TIME (10-15 Minutes) While studying theology in preparation for priesthood, one of the fields of study was liturgy. The study of liturgy was more than just simply learning how to properly celebrate the sacraments; it involved some very in-depth study into the teachings behind what we do liturgically in the church, and why we do what we do. I recall when the class turned its attention to Easter and how overwhelming I found it as we all know Easter involves some very intricate and elaborate liturgical events. As we looked deeper into the Easter season liturgically, I recall the teacher spending a great deal of time explaining why in 1969 we changed the names of the Sundays between Easter and Pentecost from the Fifth Sunday after Easter to the Fifth Sunday of Easter. Why did a one-word change require so much attention? It seemed so minor and insignificant to me. The teacher went on to explain that each successive Sunday within the Easter Season was a celebration of the actual Solemnity of Easter (Easter Sunday itself). By calling the Sundays within the Easter Season a Sunday of Easter, its intent is to highlight the underlying unity of the entire season of Easter. In other words, each day of Easter is to be seen as one feast day, one great Sunday. I was now more overwhelmed than ever. How could we possibly celebrate a continuous unending feast, fifty days in length? Surely we have to take a break at some point, for the normal activities of life require our attention. Not even cloistered religious could possibly celebrate unending for fifty days. Clearly the intent is not to celebrate liturgically for fifty days non-stop. However, we are to celebrate for fifty days non-stop the great news of the Resurrection as we move through the everyday events of our lives. It slowly dawned on me that a liturgical celebration does not end simply because we are told the Mass is over and to go in peace. What we experience spiritually and emotionally within a liturgical celebration is not left behind when we exit the church. We take that experience with us. Perhaps this is why I ultimately joined a religious community dedicated to proclaiming the Resurrection, to live each day as one continuous unending Easter proclamation that Christ has risen from the dead. The hope of the church is that this kind of living the message of the Resurrection does not even end at Pentecost we carry the news of Christ Risen every day of our lives. 1
Warm-up Activity (about 8-10 minutes): Before the Second Vatican Council, it was a commonly-held belief that only Monks, and in particular cloistered Monks, were the perfect Christians, living a life completely and totally given over to God. Monks were seen as living a life that was centred around daily moments of personal and communal prayer, around Eucharist, around solitude and silence a lifestyle that the baptized followers of Christ had neither the time, desire, nor ability to live. Because the average person of faith could not live the type of lives Monks lived, it resulted in people thinking of themselves as lesser Christians, unable to attain this type of spiritual perfection, not fully a follower of Christ. With the Second Vatican Council, this belief, this attitude, began to change. The Second Vatican Council clearly taught that ALL of the baptized are called to one and the same perfection. This perfection finds expression in all kinds of various lifestyles, various spiritual paths that people venture upon spiritual perfection is attainable by all the baptized, not just Monks. What does spiritual perfection mean to you? What does it look like? How can those engaged in very busy lives, caring for family, working to put food on the table and a roof over their heads, attain spiritual perfection? The Table of the Word THEME: DISCIPLESHIP During the Year of Faith called by Pope Benedict XVI, which ran from October 2012 to November 2103, a Synod on the New Evangelization took place. The Synod identified four elements that comprise the call/mission of all baptized followers of Christ; in other words they defined what discipleship means. The first element is personal witness, to truly live the Gospel with all of its challenges and demands. The second element is perfect charity, to love God above all and our neighbour as ourselves. The third element is to transform where we live and the sphere of our influence by being the salt and light of Christ. The fourth element is to directly and boldly invite others to know and follow Jesus Christ. These four elements define what it means for us, as baptized followers of Christ, to share in the discipleship of the Risen Lord. Leader: Through the Resurrection, Christ calls us to newness of life, to turn from our old life and embrace the new life as a follower of the Risen Lord. Lord Jesus, you call us to live as believers of the Resurrection, Lord, have mercy Christ Jesus, you call us to boldly proclaim the news of your Resurrection, Christ, have mercy Lord Jesus, you invite us to share in your Resurrection, Lord, have mercy Let us pray (together) Your love for us, O God, surpasses our poor hearts, and your command is only this: that we should become true Disciples by believing in Jesus and loving one another. Grafted now as living branches of Christ the true vine may we glorify you by bearing much fruit. We ask this through our Risen Lord and Saviour, the Lord Jesus, who lives with you in the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. 2
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION TIME (45 minutes) (As Christians we believe that the WORD of God we hear proclaimed each Sunday is an empowering Word, and that God is present in the Word proclaimed. This is the Word that God wants us to hear today. The dynamic of the Small Christian Community, namely, reflecting on our life story within the context of this Word, and sharing the insights of these reflections, is such that God s Spirit becomes present, and the gifts of the Spirit are experienced as empowering and life giving.) FIRST READING (Acts 9:26-31) When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, brought him to the Apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus Saul had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. So Saul went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him. When the believers learned of it, they brought Saul down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Meanwhile the Church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. SECOND READING (1 John 3:18-24) Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us, and God knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever obeys his commandments abides in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 3
GOSPEL (John 15:1-8) A reading from the holy gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in them bears much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Lectio Divina means sacred reading. It was a popular form of prayer in the early Church. This Word proclaimed today is God's own Word, God's way of speaking to you today through God's own Spirit. So take a few moments to be quiet, allowing this Word you have just heard to touch you or soak into you as you reflect quietly on the three readings. Is there a word or thought that somehow attracts you or has your interest? If so, simply identify it and describe it in a few words. COMMENTARY: Today, in our first reading from Acts, we witness the beginnings of the ministry of the former persecutor of the Christians, Saul of Tarsus. It was a bit of a rocky beginning to his ministry, for the followers of Christ were still fearful of him, not sure of the authenticity of Saul's seemingly sudden change of heart towards Christ and His followers. To ease the doubts of the Apostles, Barnabas intervenes on behalf of Saul, acting as Saul's guarantor, his sponsor in faith so to speak, presenting him to the Apostles in a positive light. Saul was accepted by the Apostles, resulting in Saul going forth and speaking boldly in the name of Jesus. We learn two things from this account today: one, that the Word of God is indeed spreading; and two, that new converts are joining the church. The discipleship of the followers of Christ is clearly showing signs of success. What is the driving force behind this bold form of discipleship within the early Christian community? The answer is found in the second reading from the First Letter of John. This brief second reading tells us that the goal of discipleship, the objective in being a follower of Christ, is to live in communion with God. In the Gospel for today, we hear Jesus speaking of the vine and the branches. By speaking of the vine and branches, Jesus is truly speaking about discipleship, the very theme identified in both the first and second readings for today. The message, while a challenging one, seems very clear and direct. The vine gives life and, in doing so, results in the branches producing an abundant harvest. Jesus goes on to say in the very last sentence of today's passage that the Apostles are involved in the act of bearing fruit, the success of which identifies them as Disciples. Jesus has now defined for us the definition of Discipleship = the act of bearing fruit. In other words, every living branch (us) of the vine (Christ) is expected to bear fruit, to carry out good works and to live an exemplary life. (Allow 5 10 minutes for the participants to react to the Commentary to identify a newly discovered insight.) 4
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION: Acts 9:26 31 Speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Saul of Tarsus, the great persecutor of the followers of The Way, saw and spoke to the Lord on the road to Damascus. This encounter with the Lord brought about a profound and deep change of heart in Saul, to the point that he was now a bold and vocal follower of the Lord. Imagine yourself as the recipient of Saul's persecution. How do you feel seeing Saul now as a follower of Christ? Would you be able to forgive him for his persecution of the followers of Christ? Do you trust him? 1 John 3:18 24 He abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. By Christ abiding in us, we receive the grace to live in communion with God. First John tells us that to live in communion with God is to love God and love one another. Some might say that loving God is the easier part of this equation, while loving one another is the greater challenge. What does it mean to you to love one another? What does this community of love look like? John 15:1-8 I am the true Vine As branches of the vine we are called to produce an abundant harvest. What does producing an abundant harvest mean to you? CARING-PRAYING TIME: (15-20 minutes) Word of the Week: Pope Francis in The Joy of the Gospel tells us that discipleship is the call to Let us go forth, then, let us go forth to offer everyone the life of Jesus Christ. (Par. 49) Suggestion for the Week: Our readings today inform us once again that we are called to discipleship, and what is expected of us as followers of Christ as we live out our discipleship. Our Gospel deepens our understanding of discipleship by telling us that we are the branches and that Jesus is the vine. Our connectedness to Jesus the vine is what enables us to go forth and produce a bountiful harvest, the act of discipleship. Spend some time this week reflecting upon your personal call to discipleship how are you involved in producing a bountiful harvest as a disciple dedicated to following Christ? Intercessions: (Response: Lord, hear our prayer) Leader: Grafted as living branches onto Christ the true Vine, let us ask God to provide for the needs of all. For the church in all communities throughout the world: May it have peace and be built up in this paschal season, we pray to the Lord... We continue to pray for all those newly initiated Christians, baptized into a new life at the Easter Vigil: May they glorify God by bearing fruit, we pray to the Lord... 5
For all the families of the world, in all their diversity: May they seek peace not in word or speech alone but also in truth and action, we pray to the Lord... For those whom the Vinegrower is pruning by sickness, suffering or trials: May they persevere through this cleansing and see their yield increase, we pray to the Lord... That all our various communities of faith may increase in faith and numbers: May we live in the love of God and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, we pray to the Lord... For all the departed who obeyed the commandments and did what pleased God: May they receive from God the eternal life for which they asked, we pray to the Lord... How can we help you in prayer this week? Let us pray (together) Bestow on us the comforting presence of your Holy Spirit, so that, loving one another with a love that is sincere, we may become the firstfruits of a humanity made new and bear a rich harvest whose fruits are holiness and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. With hands and hearts united in gratitude for God's favours today, we pray that all those in our influence be moved to be open to your Word and your Spirit, while we pray as one, OUR FATHER... Celebrating the Word, Resurrection Ministries of the Congregation of the Resurrection Ontario-Kentucky Province (including the former Resurrection Centre), 265 Westmount Road North, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G7. (Celebrating the Word was founded by Father Frank Ruetz, C.R. deceased 2012). For information: website: www.resurrectionists.ca. Email: theword@resurrectionists.ca The Scripture version used in this commentary is the New Revised Standard Version (copyrighted by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA). 6