Seventh Sunday of Easter

The main theme of today’s scripture readings is Christian love resulting in Christian unity. The first reading from Acts tells us how the eleven apostles as one unit, relying on the power of God, elected Matthias to replace Judas. The second reading from John’s epistle emphasizes the centrality of love in our Christian living. It tells us how the apostle deals with disunity in his church by teaching them the basis of true Christian love and unity. In Gospel, we see Jesus praying for those disciples who are sharing the meal with him. The core of Jesus’ message is love. Through the genuine act of his love, Jesus binds all disciples together into one community.

God loves us and it is God who first loved us. God doesn’t love us because we are good. God loves us because H is good. So what should we do? Love one another. We show our love for God by loving one another. What happens when we love one another? God remains in us. What happens to those who remain in love? God remains in them and they remain in God. God is love. Through God’s love, we all are united to one another. Jesus prays for this unity, just like he and his father are one. Jesus’ desire is that Christian unity should transcend all the present denominational differences and unite his followers in love. The Church must be one in the Spirit of love and holiness. Unity of Christians is necessary to convince the world of the truth of Christianity. Faced with the disunity of Christians, the world cannot see the supreme value of the Christian faith. Hence it is our duty to demonstrate that unity of love with all our fellow Christians whatever their denominations and in spite of doctrinal differences.

Fr. Pauly Thekkan