Fifth Sunday of Easter Year B

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

You can imagine the disciples fearing for their lives. This is the Saul of Tarsus who was opposed to all that Christ stood for, opposed to all that the Church taught and proclaimed.

But note that Barnabas took charge of Saul and brought him to the apostles, and he reported to them how Saul had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.

It took a Barnabas to bring the disciples to Saul or Paul as he was now called. Barnabas’ real name was Joseph, but he was nicknamed Bar-nabas – a name which means “son of encouragement”. Each of us are called to be encouragers, encouraging one another in the faith, in love, in charity, in hope!

As Saint John mentions in his epistle of today’s second reading, “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. And those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he gave us.”

Saint John records Jesus’ words: "Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing…. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

Think of the glorious call we have received. We are called to be in Christ – for he says, “Apart from me you can do nothing!” If we allow God to keep us in Christ, we will bear much fruit! If we unite our lives with the life of Jesus Christ, we will become like Him. We are called to encourage one another, especially in this Easter season, to live the resurrection message of hope and faith.

Yet it is not easy to be a Catholic these days. There are even some Catholics who somehow think that one does not have to live by the teachings of the Church and they can still somehow still be good Catholics.

For instance, Marriage is up for grabs. There are those who think that marriage can be redefined. Yet Marriage is the Sacrament of God whereby the husband and wife in the covenant of love co-create with God new human life. Yet many today have rejected marriage as created by God in the Garden of Eden and have reduced it to nothing special and think that it can be redefined by a governor or a popular vote.

And human life is no longer a right for many of our pre-born brothers and sisters. Yet we believe in the dignity of each and every human being, human beings created in the image of God! Yet many in the world do not believe this. Human life is no longer recognized by some as actual human life.

Human beings are no longer called human persons until after they are born and only then if they are healthy or wanted. Yet Christ said “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.”

Today we do well to call to mind that Jesus himself was an unborn child in Mary’s womb! He was the Lord from the moment of his conception. He united himself with us in all things and in all ways. All human life is human life! No exceptions. In dignifying the Virgin Mary’s womb by his presence, he has dignified all unborn human life as fully human. “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.”

When Saint Paul was on the road to Damascus to round up more Christians and arrest them and likely have some put to death, Christ appeared to Paul and said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

He did not say “Why are you persecuting the church?” No, what he said was: “Why are you persecuting me?” For what is done to Christ’s Church is done to Christ Jesus himself.

So, today, let us be encouraged that we are found worthy to be ridiculed and mocked for our faith in Jesus Christ.

And know this that if we are in Christ, then we too may experience our own crucifixion. Yet we too will experience the resurrection of the body as well.

Jesus says clearly: “I am the vine, you are the branches.

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.

This is our hope! This is the faith of our Church. Let us never become discouraged – even in the face of ridicule and persecution – knowing that Christ will give you strength to endure and promises you eternal life.

May we never allow any sadness to overshadow the joy of the resurrection of Christ! For He is our life.