Congregation for the Clergy: 6th Sunday of Easter, Living a Real Christian Life

P>VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - The readings of this the sixth Sunday of Easter allows us to ponder a number of considerations about being a Christian and living the 'Christian life' which we, along with the disciples of the Risen One, are called to 'be'.  (Cfr. Jn 14:16)

Firstly, the reading from the Act of the Apostles advises us to 'give heed to what was said' (Acts 8:6), to the words that the Church announces, as this is the first essential step in becoming part of Christ's mystical body. 

It is an action that implies, as was then specified, not only 'hearing' but more importantly seeing the 'signs' that makes the content of the Christian message self-evident (Cfr Acts 8:6).  There is a 'door' that you cross only once through Baptism, however, it must be carried through into our everyday lives in order to rediscover what it truly means to be a disciple. 

Peter and John, as we have already heard, decided to head for Samaria to lay their hands on Philip's disciples so that they would receive the Holy Spirit (Cfr Acts 8:17) and therefore, as the prophet Isaiah invites us in the words of today's entrance antiphon (Cfr Is 48:20), have the strength to 'proclaim' Christ's message 'to the end of the earth'.

The words of the Prophet also introduces another essential element as to how a person can be recognised as living a 'Christian life'.  The Apostle Peter indicates it when he affirms that we must 'always be prepared to .account for the hope' (1 Pt 3:15) that is in us 'with gentleness and reverence' (1 Pt 3:16). 

At this point, the use of terms like 'must' and 'duty', used up to this moment, requires an explanation.  Christianity isn't an application of a moral obligation!  Christianity is, rather, the communion of those that are in love with Christ. It is by remaining in His love, 'observing His commandments', (cfr Jn 14:21) that believers perform acts which otherwise would, humanly speaking, be inexplicable. 

We understand today's Gospel reading very well when we know that a Christian isn't a man who strives to follow devoted practices or precepts as, if one loves, it comes naturally to live as Jesus has indicated. 

Rediscovering our own Baptism, through the guidance of the Spirit of truth, means therefore to search to know Christ's life better every day through reading the Scriptures, prayer, receiving the sacraments, and contributing to life within our community and then it will be easier to fall in love with Him!

From what has been proposed so far, there is nothing that emerges that anyone can say prohibits us from living a 'life' that is real, not even the fact that we can not yet see Jesus in the flesh. 

It is then that we can finally understand St John's Gospel: 'Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me'. (Jn 14:19)  The alternative between 'you' and the 'world' doesn't correspond to a moral or ethnic division but an alternative that dwells in the hart of every one of us!

If we, therefore, follow the world and its mentality, we will never see the Risen One.  However, if we start to trust ourselves to the Church, our mother, to listen to that what she suggests and teaches us, then we will discover that in truth one can see the Lord. 

We will discover that He has an exceptional, Real Presence that we will find fascinating and irresistible because He is the only true motor for the 'Christian life.'

Citations of
Act 8, 5-8.14-17:  www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9ahx00h.htm
 www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9avu0hh.htm
1P 3,15-18 :   www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9axgcxc.htm
www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9a10a2c.htm
Jn 14,15-21 :   www.clerus.org/bibliaclerusonline/en/9axiymn.htm

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