May 2010

Today we celebrate the fifth Sunday of Easter. In the second reading John tells us about his vision of a new heaven and a new earth. He describes the New Jerusalem and presents us with a wonderful picture of what heaven will be like. In the New Jerusalem God lives with his people and he is fully present to them. The end of his reading he said: The one sitting on the throne spoke: Now I am making all things new.

My dear brothers and sisters,

This newness is in a real sense, which is already upon us. The simple fact of Jesus’ resurrection makes the whole world new. After Jesus’ resurrection everything has a much deeper sense for all those who follow Christ.

After our Baptism we live a new life in Christ. Through our Baptism we have become part of his work of the salvation in the world. There is not just a new heaven and a new earth; there are also new people—the Church. We are the leaven for the world, the salt of the earth, the new chosen people.

In our Gospel reading Jesus instructs the eleven, and also us, how to be his disciples. He says: Love one another just as I have loved you. By the love you have for one another everyone will know that you are my disciples. So Jesus clearly wants us to be known as his disciples by the world. It is in this way that his salvation will become known and that everyone will eventually come to him.

When I go to different places and I wear a clerical collar people know who I am, that I’m the priest. They know, therefore, what I stand for. In a very real sense I represent Christ. But it shouldn’t be just the priest, should it? It should be all of us; for we are all ambassadors for Christ.

If we are to be faithful to Christ we can’t be secret followers, we have to walk in the light, we have to openly give witness to Jesus. We must allow people to know what we are and who we stand for. And we must live lives that will not discredit our faith, in Christ. If we are to be effective witnesses to Christ in the world then we have to have Christ at the very forefront of our minds. We need to show Christ in everything we do. We must be aware of and act on his loving presence at all times of the day.

With this, people will come to know Jesus Christ.