May 20, 2019 (Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter)
Humans not gods
Dear friends in Christ, commissioned by Christ to preach the good news, we have also been given gifts and talents with which we can achieve this purpose. The gifts may come in terms of Knowledge, understanding, wisdom, the ability to work miracles etc. We must however never forget that these gifts which are meant to be used for the good of the community must not turn us into masters. We are servants at the service of God and the community to which we have been sent.
Our first reading today (Acts 14:5-18) is about the mission of Paul and Barnabas in Lycaonia where in the surrounding towns of Lystra and Derbe they preached the good news. It happened however that once they worked a miracle in which they healed a man who has never walked in his life, the people turned on them, calling them gods, “Zeus and Hermes.” Lystra has a legend as the place of Bauchis and Philemon. They were a good old couple. Once, the gods Hermes and Zeus came incognito to Lystra, while all others rejected them, this couple cared for the visitors. Zeus then asked them for their wish—they chose to live in good health, till a ripe old age and to die on the same day. Their wish was granted. One can see why these people wanted to worship Paul and Silas by offering sacrifice— they didn't want to be seen as rejecting the gods a second time. It took a great effort by Paul to calm them down, telling them: “Friends, what are you doing? We are only human beings like you. We have come with good news to make you turn from these empty idols to the living God…” The same cannot be said of many people in our society today, who because of their gifts and talents have turned themselves into ‘idols and thin gods’ worshipped and obeyed by those around them. Yet they die and their memories fade like that of a flower in the fields. The responsorial psalm responds perfectly to that, “Not to us Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory for the sake of your love and your truth, lest the heathen say: ‘Where is their God?’”
In the gospel of today (John 14:21-26) Jesus gives a discourse on love and its essence. True love of Jesus is not about sentiments or feelings, it must be about obedience to his commandments. True love must find and do the will of the lover, in this case, the will of God. Those who love Jesus, must keep his word and for that, they will in turn be loved by the Father and ultimately, they will enjoy the company of the godhead. It is very easy to profess that one is a follower of Christ, but far more important is, doing the will of God. That was why he told his disciples that it is not those who call him Lord who will enter the kingdom, but those who do the will of the Father. How are you following Jesus? By word only or by deed as well?
Let us pray: Lord, teach us the lesson of humility, help us to follow your own example always. Amen. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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