6th Sunday of Easter, Year B: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima
Theme: Love: the true identity of Christians
Readings: Acts 10:25–26,34–35,44–48; 1Jn. 4:7–10; Jn. 15:9–17
Dearest friends in Christ, the readings of today give us the real identity or distinguishing factor of Christians. Friends, we all know that every establishment in this world has its identity, its trademark, let us say a quality that distinguishes it from other establishments. Also, every country has its identity, which can be seen in their nation’s flags, languages, coat of arms, etc. People also have their distinguishing factors seen in their cultures, languages, dressings, foods, hairstyles, etc.
For many centuries, Christians have also evolved means to show the world who they are, ways of letting the world know that they belong to the body of Christ. The hierarchies in the church, for example, Cardinals, Bishops, priests and religious, use uniforms to show who they are. On many occasions, the lay Christians have also identified themselves and their groups in the church through uniforms, badges, pinups.
However, dear friends, the readings of today are drawing our attention to a higher factor that should be our identity in the world, a factor that should distinguish us from the rest of the world. This factor is called love. It was Shakespeare who said that the ‘hood does not make a monk’ (Cacullus non facit monachum). He was right, because uniforms can be changed anytime, anywhere, and we have also seen occasions where people of the same uniform fought and killed themselves. Hence, uniforms are not enough distinguishing factors for Christians, they cannot be our identity before the world.
Before the chapter of today’s gospel, Jesus had already informed his disciples in Jn 13:35 that ‘if you love one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.’ In the today’s gospel, He added: this I command you, to love one another. It is a command, not a suggestion from Christ. I see the other parts of the gospel of today and the second reading as further lessons on this real identity, trademark or distinguishing factor for Christians.
The second reading gave us a reason why love should be the identity of Christians. The first reason why we should love is because God is love, and he who loves is from or of God and, consequently, knows God. Therefore, he who does not love cannot say he knows God because God is love. If you love, it means you know God, but if you don’t love, it means you don’t know God. Hence it is by loving that we can convince other people that we know God and that we belong to God, not by wearing uniforms. The love of God does not discriminate, it is a love that is shown to both friends and non-friends. Let us not talk about showing love to enemies because for those who love, there are no enemies, there can only be non-friends, and non-friends are not enemies. The first reading showed us how this love was poured on people who were not yet Christians. The type of love that is our Christian identity does not segregate.
In the Gospel of today, Jesus showed us more qualities of this love that should be our identity. This love for one another, he said, must be according to His own love for us. And at the heart of the love Jesus has for us is sacrifice, the laying down of one’s life for his friends. Hence, Jesus is telling us that the love that should distinguish us from other people is a sacrificial love, a love that is ready to burn out like a candle in order to light others. A love that does not end on the lips, but is shown in service to others. A love that is ready to sacrifice something precious for the sake of the beloved. This love can be expressed through offering of one’s time, money, and talent for the good of other people. It is a love that goes out in search of those who offended it so that it can forgive them. It is the love that defends the poor and the weak. It is a love that is founded on honest service to other people. This is the type of love that should be the identity of every Christian.
Dearest friends, we will lose our Christians identity whenever we hate other people. We will lose our resemblance of God whenever we fail to love as Jesus loved. We will cease to represent Christ in the world whenever we hate our neighbours, friends and other people.
Peace be with you
Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima