Posted on May 16, 2025 View all Gospel Reflection
“Behold I make all things new.”
As we continue in the Easter season, the readings now are focused on the new reality of God’s kingdom and how we work together to build it up. In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, there is a shift from the mission of Peter, to that of Paul and Barnabas. In this shift there is also a new facet of the evangelical process. At the end of today’s selection we hear that “when they arrived, they called the church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” (Acts 14:27)
This new facet is a great development for the whole world, and actually one which has benefitted most of us here today. When salvation was opened to the Gentiles it meant that salvation was not limited only to the people of Israel. Jesus pointed to this in today’s Gospel when he said “I give you a new commandment: love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) With such a profound and yet simple declaration, Jesus opens the door to salvation to all who follow this new commandment. It was no longer going to be necessary to follow the entire Judaic law to be saved.
In Revelation, John writes how the old order is passing away and that “The One who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold I make all things new.’” (Rev. 21:5a) This new reality that is fully revealed in the end times, was set into motion by the birth, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came to establish the new Jerusalem. When Jesus was before Pontius Pilate he said to him “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” (John 18:36) So, when Jesus died for our sins he opened the gates to the new Jerusalem (our heavenly home) for all of humanity.
But the path to our heavenly homeland is not easy. Paul and Barnabas exhorted the disciples and all of the faithful to persevere in the faith saying “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22) But we are not alone in our journey. The church appointed elders for them in each church. These elders who we now recognize as our Bishops and priests all are connected back to St. Peter the first Pope. With the election of our new Holy Father we continue to see how God through the Holy Spirit continues to shepherd his church here on earth so that we are guided, protected and strengthened in our path to holiness and onward to heaven.
Our attitude during this journey should be like that expressed in the Psalm. “Let your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you.” (Psa. 145:10) Our lives should be examples of the love of neighbor that Jesus exhorted in today’s Gospel. Our tongues should declare the truth of Jesus Christ as our light. That truth that seemed so elusive to Pilate, is the great gift we receive from Jesus Christ. Let us truly live in the truth, for the truth shall set us free.
