"A New Commandment"

Sunday Mass Readings

Last Monday, National Public Radio carried an amazing interview on its program, ‘Talk of the Nation.” Cheryl Ward-Kiser is an ordinary person like any of us; Up until that day when five men and a woman entered her home, raped her daughter and murdered her husband in her sight. While the crimes were being committed, Cheryl was herself pinned to the ground by a man who had her foot on her back and a gun to her head. Cheryl saw through the conviction of these criminals but that did not seem to bring her a closure. Quite by chance Cheryl got involved in what is today called the “Restorative Justice Program.” Restorative Justice hinges on the fact that the present justice system is failing both the criminals and their victims. In California alone there are 173,000 people in prison and the state spends a whopping $ 8.2 billion on them. Yet, it does no good except imprison people and leave the victims hurting. The Restorative Justice Program puts the victims of the crime right on the top of the equation and facilitates a conversation between the criminal and the victim. It helps the victims to get answers to the questions they have about the crime. The program also focuses on the reform of criminals rather than their mostly futile incarceration.

Through the Restorative Justice Program, Cheryl actually sat face to face with the man who had his foot on her back and a gun to her head. In her own words, “It was life changing.” This young man had said “sorry” to Cheryl in the courtroom during his conviction. During her encounter with him later, he said that he could not imagine that he had done what he had done. “Who was that monster?” he asked. Because she could determine during their meeting that this man was truly sorry, Cheryl was able to relate to him like a human person. Cheryl came to know more about the background of this criminal. Now Cheryl is helping this man to get out of incarceration. She is going to make sure that he is corrected and that he is restored back to society.

One of the points that Cheryl made was that she has been able to forgive the criminals. During the interview, a person called from Florida and asked this simple question: “How can you forgive these criminals? She merely said, “Because I am a Christian!” It was a stunning moment but she continued, “I do not hate them but I forgive them.” that does not mean that they should not serve their sentence. Justice must be done. But as Cheryl says, “even if they are in prison,” she said, “I can set them free in a way no one can set them free.” When asked whether the criminals were sorry for what they did, she said, “Whether they are sorry or not I need to forgive them.”

Cheryl’s story is important for a number of reasons. For us, today, it also brings us to the most challenging statement made by Jesus: “This is how all will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” People like the Amish of Pennsylvania who forgave their children’s murderer and Cheryl Ward-Kaiser bring Jesus to the very centre of human society and prove to us that there are alternatives to hate, revenge, and violence.

Let me offer three points for practical implications today:
1. Paul and Barnabas dared to break the social barriers that existed in their society. That was Paul and Barnabas’ way of living the love commandment. In fact, the early Christian Church came to be known in the Roman world not by miracles, or mighty works but by their conduct. The people saw their lifestyle and commented, “See how they love one another.” If we could only see each parish, each community as pockets of love. The mission of the Church is clear.
2. The second reading from the book of Revelation ends with the words, “Behold I make all things new.” This is not an empty promise. Ordinary people like the Amish in Pennsylvania and Cheryl Ward-Kaiser are opening our eyes to new possibilities. God continues to work through those who take his words seriously. They prove to us that Jesus is risen, that he is alive. Sure, God is making all things new.
3. On a very personal level there is one question we can ask. Who are the people who most need to feel love from us these days? To us Jesus says, 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.”

My dear friends, this Eucharist is a celebration of love. It is a feast of love. Let us come forward to receive love from Jesus and take it to our world. Amen.

Fr. Satish Joseph