My friends, today I would like to begin with a line from the gospel selection that I just read for us: “I give you a new commandment – love one another as I have loved you.”  I have read this line from Scripture many times before, as you probably have too; but this time it struck me differently than it ever did before.  I want to therefore, lift up for us the word, “new” to reflect on today. 

   If this commandment is “new,” that says to me that it is not one that the people listening to our brother Jesus would have been “practicing” already!  This reminds me of a scene from my favorite story of the “life and times” of Jesus of Nazareth, done so well, I feel, by Franco Zeffirelli. 

   In this scene Jesus is sitting with a group of Jewish priests and “higher-ups,” and Jesus asks Joseph of Arimathea, “what is the heart of the law?” Joseph, in Jesus’ estimation, “answers well!”  “The heart of the law is this, love God with all your heart, soul and mind – this is the greatest commandment,” continues Joseph.  Jesus then replies, “there is another commandment, no less great, love your neighbor as yourself!” 

   At this point in the film, another man from the Sanhedrin proclaims, “but who is my neighbor?”  Enter a woman known as, “a local prostitute,” and our brother Jesus ministers to her showing his brothers present and us today, what, “love of neighbor” looks like.  Basically, that love must extend not just to those who, “love us back” – that’s easy, right?  No, this love is something we must at least attempt to, “extend to all, especially the least among us!” 

   So, my friends, our brother Jesus is giving us a new commandment.  He continues to his faithful twelve – “You will know that you are my disciples if you truly love one another.” 

   I think for many in this world, if not all of us, it is much easier to “love God,” who in God’s completeness, none of us have ever seen, than it is to love “neighbors” who come in every visage, shape and form.  That is why, I believe, God, in God’s goodness sent Jesus to first name that, yes, “we should love God,” but that we can’t truly love God, without at least, “attempting” to love those we encounter each day.  As a reality check, you will notice that I used, “attempt to” love, to make it clear that this truly can be difficult to do at times. 

   In such situations, “attempting to love,” when we find that hard to do, I do two things.  First, I try to love that which God has seen from the beginning in each of us, all the good that we are capable of…  This doesn’t mean that we should, “love or affirm,” the personal actions of others that are clearly against love.  And, in fact, when we do see actions that are against love,  we should speak out – saying nothing because we don’t “want to get involved, or we want to keep the peace, or unity” among our chosen group, simply, as we might say in present day parlance, “doesn’t cut it,” especially if on the other hand, we want to claim, “that we love God.”  It is at times like this, others might say of us, “we are better than this.” 

   Secondly, when all else seems to fail, with my best efforts, I ask Jesus to love them through my less than perfect actions. 

   Looking then to the other readings for today, from Acts first, we see Paul and Barnabas not only initially setting up churches in Turkey and throughout the Greek world, but that they extended pastoral care by visiting again and again to check on how they were doing.  Additionally, we know that when visits weren’t possible, Paul wrote letters so that his “young” flock, would not feel, “alone.”  Paul seems to use every “tool in his box” to share the Good News – extending his work, and inviting Gentiles, those not of the Jewish faith, when the Jews proved to be, not interested. 

   I am touched by our God’s loving care for the people depicted in each of the readings today.  In the 2^nd reading from Revelation, we hear that, “God will wipe away every last tear, and that death and mourning, crying and pain will be no more.”  And our God also says, “see, I make all things new.” 

   So, from our Creator God, to Jesus, our Revealer, we hear the message, that now we are being asked to do something, “new.”  Love God, yes, but love the people of this world too!  Of our brother Paul, we could say, “he showed persistence,” traveling and writing, trying to be present to those who named themselves in the early days, “The Way,” following as faithfully as they could, the message and style of Jesus. 

   We could, in my mind, use more spiritual leaders – bishops and priests, in today’s world, willing to persist as Paul did, doing something “new” as Jesus did, in order that, as Sister Joan Chittister is fond of saying, “the full message” of love could be preached.  I am so saddened when I see those “with the power,” both in Church and State, simply saying and doing nothing, because if not from them, then who will go for us, speak for us?

   My friends, the Easter Season is winding down in a few more weeks, and we are each invited and encouraged during this time to give back a portion of all that we have been given – we know that Paul was persistent in traveling overland an estimated 700 miles, and by sea, another 500 miles to do his “portion” – we know he experienced shipwrecks and more, yet he continued…  Our journey in our Christian lives, “walking the talk,” doesn’t have to be identical to Paul’s, but we do have to do that which is ours, loving our world and its people, in the ways we ourselves would like to be loved and cared for, and again, not always easy to do!  And, in all this “loving” my friends, remember to include yourselves in the care given – it’s a balance. 

Amen? Amen! Alleluia!

My friends, first off today, I want to wish all the mothers a very happy day, and as you know from previous years, we not only remember those women who have given us physical birth, but those who have mothered us emotionally, and spiritually through our lifetimes.  For the most fortunate here, you had a mother who not only gave you physical, but emotional, and spiritual mothering too.  It is important that we raise up the fact that this isn’t true for everyone—me being one, so that it is wonderful that there can be other ways “to be mothered.” 

   Now that we are fully into the month of May, we should lift up one very special mother, sister, friend – Mary of Nazareth.  Our Church through its hierarchy has unfortunately, over time been satisfied to put her on a pedestal and remember that she once said, “Yes” to God, which is significant, but not all that she was about. 

   Anyone who has been, and is a mother, in any of the ways mentioned above, knows that you have to say, “yes” again and again over time to what life brings – any woman worthy of the name has to be strong, committed, brave – having a big heart, and able to give the world, justice, mercy and love.  In truth, no one would call such a woman, “a wall flower.”  We can only hope and pray that our new Pope Leo has such a view of women, and will move in time to recognize their gifts for ministry and leadership in our Church.

   So, friends, beyond Mothers’ Day and reflection upon Mary of Nazareth, this is also the 4^th Sunday of Easter – alleluia!  And within the season of Easter, this is also Good Shepherd Sunday. I was happy to hear Pope Leo include within his opening remarks to the world, that he sees himself, “shepherding all the People of God, because our God loves each person just as they are.” 

   Looking at today’s readings then, beginning with Acts, we see Paul and Barnabas moving beyond the Jews, to the Gentiles, folks like us, in other words.  They were getting resistance from their own people and their response, as we just heard, was to “shake the dust” off their feet as Jesus had instructed and offer their “good news” to those who wanted to hear it!  The Gentiles we heard, “responded to the Word of God with praise,” and [they] “were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” 

   Upon reflection, it seems to me that this might be a good path moving forward in a world, our world, that seems so full of hatred, strife, selfishness, disregard for difference, and power-over-others.  The “path” I speak of, is lifting up all the good possible, concentrating on that, as I shared with a friend this week, treating others as we want to be treated ourselves – setting aside that which isn’t life-giving.” 

   The 2^nd reading from Revelation has John sharing his vision of heaven – “an immense crowd, from every nation, tribe, people, and language.”  We should really reflect today, this week, on what that tells us…God is telling us through John that all of God’s wonderful, beautiful, different people will be there!  So, to spend any time in “negative” spaces over things we personally can’t change is a waste of good energy.  But we can voice our opposition to all that is unchristian, and to those who claim to be “Christian,” but don’t show it in their actions. 

   Additionally, we are told in the 2^nd reading that God will wipe away every tear…with this, I would say, we have our “walking” orders…what our God is willing to do for us, we must be willing to do for others. 

   Today’s gospel from John is a short version of the story of the Good Shepherd, and basically, we are told that [if you have ears to hear, we will] “hear [Jesus’] voice” – [he] know[s] [us] and [we] “follow him.”  The extended story of the Good Shepherd lets us know, as our brother Jesus tells us in this beautiful parable, that he will “go after even one lost one.” 

   Again, it seemed from Pope Leo’s opening remarks that he sees “his new role” challenging him to go after every, “lost one too.” 

   With regard for those needing “shepherding,” this past week, I read several articles about “sex-trafficking” and of how “storefronts” for this disgusting trade, “are more prolific than McDonald’s!” Because it is so difficult, apparently, for law enforcement to get their arms around, the victims are more often the ones arrested for prostitution than are the perpetrators of these crimes, instead of attempting to get to the causes of why this continues to happen. 

   Not being a social scientist, I would simply make a general statement about the status of women in the world and Church.  Women are seen as “less than, not worthy, or called equally to lead, to serve – and until that changes, blame can always be shifted, true causes for evil can be overlooked. 

   My friends, the Easter Season challenges us to dig deep within ourselves, finding all our God-given tools to be our best, to face our world, in its often “messiness,” “holding fast to the grace,” and [shine the] “light” God has given us, as in the 1^st reading says today; to be the change we want to see in our world.  As we have remembered this week 17 years of ministry in this community, let us praise our good God for this opportunity.  May we with each other’s help continue “shining our light.” Amen? Amen! Alleluia!