6th Sunday of Easter - Year C

One of the greatest problems faced by humanity is the lack of understanding. Everyone has their own opinion, and everyone thinks theirs is the best. But as we say in Maltese, "a ship with two captains doesn’t sail", and if a group of people cannot come to an agreement—despite differing views—they will get nowhere. Perhaps in our time, this problem is felt even more keenly.

Even the Church, from its earliest days, had to face differing opinions. As we heard in today’s first reading, a serious issue had arisen in the early Church: when pagans began to be baptised, some Jewish Christians insisted that these converts must also observe the law of Moses, and therefore needed to be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas disagreed with this view and were sent to the other apostles to discuss the matter. The decision that had to be made was a significant one—it would determine whether Christians were to be considered a branch of Judaism, or whether Christianity was to be a Faith and Religion that emerged from Judaism, but was entirely separate from it.

The apostles, together, decided that salvation comes through Jesus alone. Therefore, one does not need to observe the law of Moses to be saved. They only recommended observing a few customs out of respect for Jewish Christians.

It is important to understand the difference between the law of Moses and the law of God. The law of God refers to the Ten Commandments. The law of Moses was made up of additional regulations that Moses introduced to help the people of God live the law of God more fully. Over time, the Jews kept adding to these laws—some of which ended up contradicting the very spirit of God’s law. Jesus frequently clashed with the Pharisees over these kinds of laws.

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” These are the words Jesus shares with us in today’s Gospel. Love for Jesus should not be shown by words alone, but by listening to His Word, understanding it properly, and living it out. To truly understand Jesus’ Word—not just in ways that suit us—Jesus left us the Church, whose mission is to evangelise. Therefore, those who truly love Jesus must understand His Word within the context of the Church, not apart from it.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.”Whoever loves the Lord, and therefore listens to and lives His Word within the believing community, will find true peace—the peace of heart that the world cannot give.

Let us ask ourselves: Do I feel like a true part of the Church of Jesus? If yes, what does that really mean for me?

Lord Jesus, You established the Church to continue Your mission on earth, and You called us—undeservedly—to be part of it. Help us understand that as a community, we must be united in love if we are to be true and authentic witnesses of what we proclaim. Amen.