COMMENT ON THE LITURGY OF THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
Collect
Almighty God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may avoid* those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Readings
1 Pt 2:11-17; Gv 16:16-22
Comment
Faith in the resurrection, which is at the center of every Christian's life, gives us the certainty that truth and justice, in Christ, have conquered the world. And this faith, far from representing a consoling dream, leads us to become ourselves, in Christ, protagonists of the victory over lie, injustice, death and sin.
God, however, does not treat us as pawns on a chessboard. He shows us the light, but he does not force us to receive it. Human nature is immersed in darkness and the Lord visits and illuminates our darkness. There is a divine spark in each of us; and we are free to feed it and transmit it, to transform it into a hearth or a raging fire; but we can foolishly suffocate it, put it under a bushel (Mt 5: 14-15). One day we will be asked to account for the gift we have received and the use we have made of it.
The Risen One, in his farewell speech, speaks of a brief moment in which his disciples will no longer see him, and then they will weep and lament, while the world will rejoice; but then they will find it again and their sadness will turn into joy.
The true Christian feels that he does not belong completely to this world, he longs for God, and he seeks communion with him. The joys of the world are not enough for him, they are worth nothing to console him and with the psalmist he exclaims "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (Ps 42:2).
Our faith makes God present to us, but the Truth makes its way painfully through the darkness as if it were to come to light amidst the pains of childbirth (Jn 16:21). This was true of Jesus' earthly life, from his preaching, which was welcomed with enthusiasm - but also the subject of bitter disputes - to the condemnation of the cross, up to the victory of the resurrection, which prevailed over death and sin.
Even the history of the Church, as well as our personal story of faith, retraces these obligatory stages: the joyful revelation of the Incarnate Word, of a divine presence that inhabits creation and that has placed his abode in the heart of man; the tiring return of man from his exile to communion with the Creator, and hence Peter's call to behave as pilgrims, refraining from the "desires of the flesh" (1 Pt 2:11).
But what are the desires of the flesh? The flesh, (gr. Sarx) represents the mortal component of our human nature. Abstention from his desires means the ability not to enslave ourselves to finite, transitory things. If we turn back on them, seeking salvation there, what we will find will be nothing but darkness.
But if we treat the good things that are in the world for what they are, as means and not as the end, we will be able to cross them unscathed, guided by divine light and transfiguring themselves into light.
Then our sadness will turn into joy.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
