Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
1 Peter 3:15-18
John 14:15-21
“Proclaim the Gospel; use words if you must.” Whenever we speak about evangelization, these words of St. Francis to his followers seem to be cited. They sometimes dampen the enthusiasm of those eager to preach the Gospel. How can we preach without words? The answer is in today’s Epistle.
When I ask what first brought newly baptized adults to the Church, they almost always speak about another Catholic to whom they were attracted. Further conversation tells me they were not drawn to these believers because of their theological expertise or their piety. They saw joy and hope in these people and they wondered why. Obviously, most think that there are more reasons to be uneasy with life than to be hopeful and happy about the current state of affairs. That should not surprise us. After all, what newspaper covers sunrises and hippopotami? What headline cries out the news of the birth of a child or chronicles the delightful memories of the aged? What television commentator gasps at a rainbow? The delights of life are so many and so ordinary that few take the time to smile at the wonder of creation and life itself. The sheer extraordinariness of being a part of it has become commonplace.
Life’s lack of smiles runs parallel to what might appear a loss of hope. Even those who proclaim the good news of the Gospel because that is their special calling can sometimes be accused of announcing the message of freedom only after telling about their own oppression.
The message of Easter is the news that Jesus has freed us once and for all. Christianity is a light of hope in the midst of whatever happens to be the current crisis.
The instruction of St. Peter in today’s epistle (“Be always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you.”) is as valid today as ever it has been. The difficulty is not that we do not know the answer. Rather, we too often do not live in a way that shows the deep happiness that God gives us. This simple thought reminds me of a line in one of Blessed Abbot Joseph Marmion, OSB’s books: “Joy is the echo of God’s life in us.”
No one will ask the reason for our hope unless the community of believers presents itself as a hope-filled and joyous people. Christianity calls for joyful proclaimers.
The spirit of hope and solidarity provides the prayerful atmosphere that welcomes the Holy Spirit for whom we pray.
At this Eucharist, Christians celebrate the spirit of hope. At the Eucharistic Prayer we hear the reason for our hope proclaimed: the risen Christ has freed us.
