May 25, 2025・6th Sunday of Easter (C)

Acts 15.1-2,22-29・Psalm 67.2+3,4+5, 7+8・Revelation 21.10-14,22-23;・John 14.23-29

Today`s readings continue to talk about the life of faith of the early Church. There were issues on guidelines and implementation of supposedly helpful practices in deepening their faith. The role of the Apostles of Jesus is to purify the intentions/motivations of the supposedly helpful practices in order to meet their (practices) real purposes. The Apostles needed to clarify which are the necessities, and which are practices that will just bring burden to the believers, meaningless and therefore not necessary. The necessary things are those that will bring each believer to true peace in Jesus. On the later part of our Liturgy of the Word we will find out that Jesus is telling His disciples the kind of Peace He offers: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”

While we realize that even in the early Church` life there were issues on what are really the right things to do, and what will really bring them to salvation, we are, at present are called to discern well as to where the Holy Spirit leads us to. As to articulation of our faith we have been in many understandings and interpretations, differences, and disagreements. BUT we depend on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit`s power that will enable us and our fellow believers, and our Church leaders to find unity in Christ. We have different views and questions about issues about pain, dying and after life, sexual life and sexual orientations, marriage, family planning, role of men and women in the church and in the society, and many other complex issues. We ask each day that each one of us will always have ears truly listening, first and foremost, to the Holy Spirit, and be guided. May we always have hearts truly accepting of the gift of Jesus` peace, truly forgiving and welcoming. May we always have a selfless motive in reaching-out to people. Then we hope to find unity in faith.