6th Sunday of Easter, May 13, 2012 (Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17) Peters visit to the

house of Cornelius led to questions later about what he was doing with Gentiles. This event happened in Caesarea Maritima, the coastal headquarters of the Roman legions in Palestine, and the home of the Roman Centurion, Cornelius. A centurion bowing at the feet of Peter would have been shocking to Roman ears and Christians would have been gobsmacked. Roman soldiers were meant to rule not to act humbly before a captive people. That Peter entered the house of Cornelius meant he was getting far too close to Gentiles in the eyes of those Jewish Christians who still felt obliged to observe many of the Jewish traditions. Those traditions included having nothing to do with Gentiles (see verse 28). The substance of Peters speech was the first reading for Easter Sunday. Here we have only snippets. Significant parts of this speech include Peters surmise that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. These were radical words of departure for first century Christians who emerged from a more restrictive Judaism. Not all Christians accepted this early on, but with Peter now accepting what Paul will later do in the rest of Acts, it will legitimate Pauls mission to the Gentiles. This proclamation came through Jesus, who is Lord of all, and who offers forgiveness of sins to all who believe in his name. What follows Peters speech is what some have called a Gentile Pentecost, when they too receive some of the Spirits gifts, which in fact precede their baptism! Despite the restrictions we sometimes try to place on the Spirit, we should never forget that The Spirit blows where it will (John 3:8) and any attempt to stifle the Spirit will fail. The Spirit does not work according to our rules, in spite of our best efforts to contain it. This incident emphatically illustrates the point. Sometimes the simplest way is the best; certainly thats true when it comes to doing what God wants us to do in Christ as I John 4:7-10 asserts. If love is of God, then it is a no brainer to exhort: Let us love one another. If we love then we know God in some way. Most important, God has loved us; not that we have loved God. Sundays Gospel also has this theme, but this time the Son directly mediates this love. As the Father has loved me so I have loved you (plural). Jesus cautions to remain in my love. Remain is found forty times in Johns Gospel. It means make love a part of your dwelling place, so that where you are, love may be found there. The words are directed to the disciples as a group, who represent the church. If the church has received from the Son the love of the Father, then it must dwell in

love so that those who come to the church may find that love. If it is not found there then the church will have failed in its mission. We bear the fruit of the Son only when we love one another. That is the only commandment we have been given. This I command you: love one another. As members of the church, the Body of Christ, we must always remember our command to love when it involves the stranger, the alienated for any reason and the condemned.

Fr. Lawrence Hummer