Fifth Sunday of Easter
Prince died this week. This musical legend who is somewhat of a mystery, has fans spanning decades. Listening to a coverage of him on NPR, I was intrigued by one commentator talking about Prince’s song, “Purple Rain.” There are as many explanations about the meaning of the song as there are websites about him. The commentator understood “Purple Rain” as a love song in which Prince sings about his devotion to a girl. When “Purple Rain” was released, the commentator said, he could not wait for his heart to be broken just so he could sing “Purple Rain.” Now, that’s devotion!
Fan frenzy is a phenomenon. Sometimes the very mention of the names Justin Bieber, or Miley Cyrus, or Tyler Swift sends crowds screaming! Its like they have a personal relationship with the artist. But they don’t. I find fan frenzy fascinating. The reason I find fan frenzy fascinating is because I wonder why Christians cannot be as excited about Jesus as fans are of celebrities. It is also because of the kind of passages in today’s gospel reading: Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Do these words affect us in the same way that “Purple Rain” affected the news commentator?
Here are my three practical implications.
1. The Unconditional Command. Jesus was God. Jesus lived, stood and died for something. He was about God’s unconditional love. He did not have too many fans, but to his followers he said, “As I have loved you….” Christ’s command, like his message, was not conditional. He did not say, “Love one another if they love you back,” or “until the other person attacks you,” or “as long as you get along.” Love one another as I have loved you is an unconditional command. Jesus did not write a song about it, but lived it! He knew that Judas was going to betray him, that Peter was going to deny him and that the disciples were going to abandon him, and yet, he shared with meal with them. From the cross, he forgave the very enemies who were actively murdering him. Jesus was deliberate, firmly and radical about God’s unconditional love. To those firm on following him he said, “As I have loved, so should you…!” If the commentator on NPR could not wait for his heart to the broken so he could sing “Purple Rain,” how eager are we to live Jesus unconditional command? Is there a correlation between our obsession with Jesus and our commitment to his practicing what he commands?
2. Hate is Not an Option. We have two realities we have to deal with: the unconditional love commandment and life. It is true that in all of our lives there are people who challenge our capacity for love. In spite of our best intentions, our best efforts, and our deepest love for Christ, relationships go sour. How do we reconcile these two realities? First let me say this: It is not God’s will that any human person should be subjected to racial or ethnic prejudices, to disrespect, to mental, verbal, sexual or physical abuse, to violence or injustice. Second, if a person is subjected to any form of hate, exploitation or malice, every person has the right to shield themselves. God gives us the right to uphold our human dignity; what we do not have an option is, not to love. And these are two different things. There is at least one person in my life who I have barred from being in contact with me. There are also a few people who I am best staying far away from. However, there are three decisions that I have about these people. First, if the disrespect ceases, I am committed to resolving the issue through conversations. Second, I pray for them sincerely. And third, I leave the door to reconciliation wide open. In other words, I refuse to allow people to walk all over me, but, I cannot stop loving these very people. Choosing to love when it is difficult is the best allegiance I can show to Christ. If Prince or Tyler swift have fans, Jesus deserves so much more.
3. A New Heaven and A New Earth. John’s envisions a “new heaven and a new earth.” The reading ends with the words, “I will make all things new.” Living in our very violent and war-torn world, I cannot wait for a new heaven and a new earth. I pray to God that God makes “all things new.” However, we live in a time of global politics that revolves around economic, cultural and military domination. Every nation wants to be number one. The politics of domination is completely inconsistent with Christian theology. Call me an idealist, but I am a firm believer that Christ’s teaching are relevant in all circumstances. Like Jesus, I firmly and radically believe that evil can be overcome with love not domination. Global politics and its complexities do not excuse us from the commandment to love. In other words, we cannot say that there are situations where the love commandment is not applicable. To be minimalistic or exceptionalists with regard to the love commandment is to minimize the effects of Christ’s resurrection. The new heaven and and new earth will only Christ and his world view becomes not just our belief but our passion.
- Fr. Satish Joseph