Fr Jack SJ MD: Remaining in Christ_Homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter

Acts 9:26-31

Ps 22

1 Jn 3:18-24

Jn 15:1-8

The Easter season readings from Acts of the Apostles give us a window into the early Church. Because human nature hasn’t changed in the past couple of millennia we see thoughts and behaviors identical to ours. If we pay attention to the apostles and early disciples, their behaviors and arguments, when we acknowledge the defections and schisms the best summary is that it wasn’t always pretty. Many departed. They were like the seeds that sprouted

but then quickly withered.

Those who remained came together when they had to and responded to what was going on around them. They were not pious fools who assumed a fundamental goodness in all who came to them. They were men who realized the need for prudent action. This was particularly true when it came to Saul known as Paul after his conversion.

Today's reading recalls Frank Loesser's jazz-inflected WW II patriotic song with the hymn-like title: “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.” Loesser's underlying message is that while praising the Lord we simultaneously must act with prudence and do what needs to be done. One of the best lines is:

“Praise the Lord and swing into position

Can't afford to be a politician.”

Perhaps it is true that those who can't do . . . campaign for office. It is going to be an ugly time of mud-slinging, character assassination, and lying—both parties—leading up to the election come November. Histrionics to be expected. Violence will be no surprise.

The apostles acted prudently here. Rather than throwing stones they got the newly converted Paul out of the path of stones by sending him to Tarsus where he would be safer, and where this former prosecutor of followers of “The Way”

this firebrand who assented to Stephen's martyrdom, could learn prudence himself.

And there was the advantage that he could be observed. Was he trustworthy? Was this new behavior merely a double agent type of trick? We need more than good intentions, enthusiasm, confidence, and a pleasing personality to succeed in any mission or apostolate. In number 20 of his Homilies on Acts St. John Chrysostom noted that when engaged in apostolic activity human resourcefulness is as important as grace and good intentions.

He wrote:

"You see God does not do everything directly through his grace. He frequently compels the apostles to act in line with the rule of prudence." While the first reading impresses the need for prudent action the second reading repeats the two great commandments:

"And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another just as he commanded us."

Only through prayer, meditation, and self-examination can we come to understand what this command means and how we are to live it.

Preaching on John's Gospel is never easy. The Christology is dense. The images are a challenge, particularly for us who live in an industrial society rather than an agrarian one. Most of us don't have experience with sheep, goats, or grape arbors. Lamb comes shrink wrapped at Star Wine is poured from a jug with a Gallo label on it. The agricultural images do not resonate with us in the same way as saying, “he hit that one outta’ the park.”

The image of Jesus as the vine is prominent in John. In the second book of his

three-volume study of Jesus, Pope Benedict discusses John’s images of Jesus. He writes, "The vine is a Christological title that embodies a whole ecclesiology.

The vine signifies Jesus' inseparable oneness with his own, who through him and with him are all "vine," and whose calling is to "remain" in the vine. . . Jesus is inseparable from his own and his own are one with him and in him."

The word "remain" appears eight times. in the few verses of John that were just proclaimed. In scripture studies word frequency highlights its importance.

What does it mean to remain in Jesus?

What does it mean to be faithful?

What does it mean to be consistent?

What does it mean to stay?

The answer is found in a mix of prudence, love, and unwavering commitment, even when it is not easy or smooth. We are living in an society which seems unable to make a commitment. Initial enthusiasm is easy. There is a rush in the first bloom of a new romance or immediately after the wedding. Euphoria may characterize the first months after pronouncing religious vows. Professional sports contracts are, at best, a joke.

The challenges in marriage, religious life, and sports comes when things get mundane, monotonous, routine, frustrating and difficult. The challenges come when reality rears it head. That is when the enthusiastic high has to be replaced by perseverance. Only perseverance allows us to remain part of the vine

that is Christ, the Jesus who tells us, "Remain in me, as I remain in you."

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The photos are from the Boston College campus about five years ago. It was a football weekend but, to be perfectly honest, after decades of Penn State football weekend, especially as an undergrad there, BC football is, well quaint.