for May 14
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Today’s short passage from the fourth gospel is rich in repetition, which is usually a way of drawing attention to an important point. I count eight mentions of the word love and five references to commandment (which is sort of ironic, since it is the one commandment that Jesus gives in this gospel). There’s a subtler repetition of a sense of reciprocity, as love is said to flow between Jesus and the God he calls Father, and between Jesus and us. Then there’s the word remain (repeated three times in the first two verses), which also resonates deeply with what the gospel has said in recent days about finding a dwelling place with God.

All of these repetitions–Jesus’ one commandment to love, dwelling in God, and the call to reflect the dynamic relationship between Jesus and the Father–are major themes in the fourth gospel and are worthy of much study and prayer. But what stands out in contrast today is something that’s said only once, towards the end of the passage: I chose you to go and bear fruit. Remaining in love with Jesus, and with the God who he reveals, prepares us to get pushed out the door and into the world.

A similar movement is at play in today’s first reading. Peter wants someone who has accompanied the disciples the whole time, from Jesus’ baptism by John to his ascension into heaven, to bring the ranks of the apostles back up to twelve (a number that speaks of completeness). This newly-promoted member of their company is needed, Peter concludes, to witness to Jesus’ resurrection. Once again, we see that belonging to Jesus Christ is about going out and getting to work in the world.

A few months ago, I would have said that we too are appointed to take our encounter with the risen Christ in word and sacrament and to go out the door of the church and into the world. Even though right now we can’t even get in the church door, the call to go out remains the same. Jesus’ commandment to love one another continually pushes us to take that love and the life we find in it out into the world.

Beyond that general direction, today’s readings  are somewhat vague on specific requirements. What exactly are we supposed to do on the other side of the church door–or wherever we find ourselves when there’s not a lot of ‘out’ to go to these days? Exactly how are we to keep the commandment to love as I have loved you?

In the absence of detailed guidance, there is much space for creativity and diversity. Even when our lives are pared down to essential interactions, we can find the patience to listen to another’s complaints or fears. We can dig deeply and critically into the news, to find stories not amplified by nightly news conferences. We can register for our mail-in ballot, and put our voice and vote on the side of those who suffer most from this pandemic and economic collapse.

How will your love bear fruit? How will you witness to the presence of the risen Lord in your life today?
—BJ Brown

Today’s readings can be found at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops website.