Saint Rita Catholic Church and School in Webster, NY - An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings

“Peace I Leave With You; My Peace I Give To You”

Our readings this Sunday give us a glimpse into the past, present, and the future of our faith and our salvation. The past is the struggles our early Church leaders went through in unifying their fledgling communities of love. The present is Jesus’ dual gifts of His Spirit to guide us and His blessed peace to sustain us. The future is John’s vision of the New Jerusalem to come that will be like a massive fortress, gleaming with the splendor of God and basking in the light of the Lamb.

In our first reading (Acts 15:1-2, 22-29), we hear of Paul and Barnabas’ great success in converting many Gentiles as disciples. But not without controversy, because many in Jerusalem expected the new converts to conform to all Jewish laws and customs, including circumcision. A Council in Jerusalem, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, settled the matter. This was the first of many ‘Ecumenical Councils’ that would be called to settle matters of Church doctrine and morality. The most recent was the Second Vatican Council that met from 1962 to 1965.

In our second reading (Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23), St. John describes what the New Jerusalem will look like in symbolic terms that the Jews of his day would have understood. Despite their current trials, they had something to look forward to.

In our Gospel reading (John 14:23-29), we continue to hear from Jesus’ farewell address to His disciples at the Last Supper. Here, Jesus gave them two gifts that would guide them and sustain them in their difficult days ahead. The “Advocate” is the Spirit of love shared between the Father and the Son and will be their teacher and guide; and the “Peace” Jesus left with them would comfort and sustain them like nothing the world had ever seen.

Our faith not only has a past and a present, but it has a future. No matter how dire our past has been or our present seems, our future is what God has planned for us. Our future is the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, where every tear shall be wiped away and God Himself will provide the radiance and the light to warm us. In the meantime, we have the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us and the Peace of Christ to sustain us. Ours is to believe it, and prepare our souls to receive it.

bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052525.cfm