FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 2025

5TH EASTER SUNDAY, ACTS 14. 21-27; REV 21. 1-5; JOHN 13.31- 35 Indicative: Jesus came to change our old life of sin, darkness, and death into a new life of grace, light, and life 1. Today’s impressive and recurrent theme is Newness. All three readings revolve around various aspects of newness. In the second reading from Revelation, God assures, “Behold I am making all things new”. In the gospel of John, Jesus gives a new commandment. And in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we find some concrete signs of new life in Christ. 2. Some of the features of the new life that God promises in Revelation are: A new abode, a new dwelling place, and new situations, symbolized by “a new heaven and a new earth”, and “the dwelling place of God is with them”. It is a new life of holiness and heavenliness, symbolized by a “new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God”. It is a new life of beauty and intimacy, symbolized by “a bride adorned for her husband”. It is a new life of total belongingness between God and His people, indicated by that “they will be his people … and God himself will be their God”. It is a new life of joy, indicated by the fact that “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death or mourning or crying or pain”. 3. In the gospel, Jesus gives us a new identity, a new vocation that is, being his disciples. He gives a new duty and mission and that is bearing witness to his discipleship. He also gives a new means, a new way, a new commandment, and that is to love another. But what is new in this so-called new commandment? 4. It is new because it expands and extends the hold and scope of Leviticus 19.18 of loving one’s neighbour as oneself. ‘Neighbour’ is no more tribalistic, a member of one’s own group; rather, a neighbour is universalistic, anyone in need, bound by the bond of faith and fraternity. It is new because the model is Jesus himself and his love. Jesus commanded: Just as I loved you, you too love another. Therefore, our love for one another should be like his love with the same passion, commitment, sacrifice, and service. Further, it is new because ‘loving one another becomes the identity mark of discipleship, the fulfillment of our mission and the fitting way of glorifying God. 5. Now in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we see some concrete effects and manifestations of this new life. It is a new life of strength, strengthening the souls of the disciples. It is a new life of courage, encouraging them to continue in faith. It is a new life of openness, opening a door of faith to the Gentiles. It is a new life of commending and committing the believers to God with prayer and fasting. It is a new life of accomplishing and fulfilling all the works in God’s name and for His glory. Imperative: God is constantly calling us for a new life and offering us a new life. Then, why do we go on clinging to the old and former ways of sin and evil?