Sixth Sunday of Easter [C], May 9, 2010

Readings:
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23
John 14:23-29

Calendar:
May 9: Mother’s Day in the United States and Canada and elsewhere
May 13 or 16: Feast of the Ascension
May 15: International Day of Families http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/family/IDF.html
May 15: Police Officer Memorial Day in the U.S. http://www.aphf.org/memday.html

Quotes:

Love for others, and in the first place love for the poor, in whom the Church sees Christ himself, is made concrete in the promotion of justice.
-- John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, 1991

The Church’s conviction of the inseparability of justice and charity is ultimately born of her experience of the revelation of God’s infinite justice and mercy in Jesus Christ, and it finds expression in her insistence that man himself and his irreducible dignity must be at the centre of political and social life.
--Benedict XVI, 28 April 2007

Love of neighbor is an absolute demand for justice, because charity must manifest itself in actions and structures which respect human dignity, protect human rights, and facilitate human development. To promote justice is to transform structures which block love.
--1971 Bishops’ Synod, Justice in the World

A charity that loves and serves the person is never able to be separated from justice. Each in its own way demands the full, effective acknowledgment of the rights of the individual, to which society is ordered in all its structures and institutions.
--John Paul II, Christifideles Laici, 42

Finally, may Christ inflame the desires of all people to break through the barriers which divide them, to strengthen the bonds of mutual love, to learn to understand one another, and to pardon those who have done them wrong. Through His power and inspiration may all peoples welcome each other to their hearts as brothers and sisters, and may the peace they long for ever flower and ever reign among them.
--John XXIII, Pacem in Terris 171

Thoughts for your consideration:

Religion can cause lots of harm and confusion or it can become a source of life and hope to all people. Looking at history, we might say that there exists good religion and bad religion. We like to think that the religion which we practice is “good religion” - religion which leads people to life and peace and justice.

In the first reading the men and women in Antioch have heard religious messages or opinions that have upset them and disturbed their peace of mind. There is tension and conflict. The issue is brought to the community in Jerusalem.  The community consensus is not to impose anything that gets in the way of the spirit – that gets in the way of the freedom and joy of the people of God in Antioch or anywhere else – that gets in the way of liberation.

In the heavenly Jerusalem envisioned in the second reading, things are so simple and direct, that there is no need for a temple – the presence and glory of God is everywhere. As Jesus in the gospel makes clear: the spirit comes and the gift is peace.

The invitation of the scriptures is to get involved in good, healthy religion.  The invitation is to keep it simple and focused on what is really important – what will give life and freedom and peace.  The social teaching of the church aims to help us keep focused on what is really important.

Religion should not be about ideology or empty spiritual practices or rigid rituals disconnected from life. Rather it is about a concern for what it is really important – a concern for the spiritual values that really matter – the issues of justice and peace in the world – a concern for the poor – a respect for creation as a gift from God -- a concern for reconciliation with those with whom we are in conflict – a focus on a world that (using the images of the second reading) reflects the “glory of God.”

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The theme of peace flows through our scriptures today.  Jesus talks about giving us peace, a peace that might be different than that of the world.  The early disciples go to Jerusalem to discern a common vision and to promote peace within the church.  The Jerusalem envisioned in Revelations seems to be a magnificent city of tranquility and peace.  Reflections on peace must certainly be part of our prayer today:

• How do we get nations to spend more on people and less on weapons?
• How do we end the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and help people find peace?
• How do we address the genocide and killing in places like the Congo or Darfur?
• How do we deal with domestic violence in our nation?
• How do we deal with our own violent emotions?
• How do we stay “at peace” in a world with so many problems?

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group:

• What things disturb you sense of peace?  
• What issues or conflicts disturb your spirit, rob you of energy, and prevent you from being free and alive in Christ?

Actions - Links:

Mother’s Day
In the United States, Julia Ward Howe suggested the idea of Mother's Day in 1872.  Howe, who wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic, saw Mother's Day as a day dedicated to peace after having lived through the horrors of the United States' Civil War. She saw it as a world-wide protest of women against the cruelties of war. See http://www.peace.ca/mothersdayproclamation.htm.

Crazy Facts: (For Mother’s Day)

75% of women in prison are mothers. Two-thirds of these women have children under the age of 18. (U.S. Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics)

Parents held in the nation’s prisons—52% of state inmates and 63% of federal inmates—reported having an estimated 1,706,600 minor children, accounting for 2.3% of the U.S. resident population under age 18. http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=823

“An estimated 2 million young people under 18 have a parent in either prison or jail. Most have incarcerated fathers, but more than 116,000 are estimated to have a mother behind bars.”
http://www.cwla.org/articles/cv0409mentoringcop.htm
 
Prayers of Intercession:

Response:
For all our mothers on this Mother’s Day, we pray….
For all parents, especially single parents, as they face the challenges of caring for their children, we pray….
For healthy families who are able to give love and care to all our children, we pray….
For an end to all the violence in our world whether it is in our homes or streets or anywhere around the globe, we pray….
For peace, understanding, and dialogue in all of our church communities, we pray…
For peace to rule all over the world, we pray…

Prayer:

Prayer for Mothers from the Education for Justice website.  http://www.educationforjustice.org

In Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe . . .
We give thanks for mothers everywhere.

When times are hard, in situations of suffering . . .
We give thanks for the sacrifices they make each day for their children.

For their examples of love, caring, and hope . . .
We give thanks for their generosity, their compassion and their hope for the future.

In the Congo, Iraq, Uganda, Palestine, Colombia . . .
We remember mothers in our global community who care for their children as guns of war are heard.

In Zimbabwe, India, Guyana, Belize, Botswana . . .
We remember mothers as sicknesses such as AIDS and malaria ravage their lands.

In Haiti, Burundi, Eritrea, Cambodia, Guatemala . . .
We remember mothers whose access to food and water is scarce.

In Sudan, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Afghanistan . . .
We remember mothers who bundled up their children, fled their homes, and became refugees.

Mary, Mother of God, embrace all mothers, give them strength and courage and mother their spirits so they can continue to heal the wounds of their children and of the world. We give thanks for mothers everywhere. Amen.

--Lectionary Reflection by Fr. John Bucki, S.J.