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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2010 /  The Church is a community of disciples of the Risen Lord

by Fr. Richard C. Macey special to The Michigan Catholic
Published April 23, 2010

First Reading: Acts 14:21-27
Paul and Barnabas traveled through present-day Turkey and returned to Antioch in Syria. Many people were converted to Christianity.

The disciples continued to keep in touch with the new converts and "strengthened the spirits." Leaders were appointed in each locality, so that the people may have pastors to look after them.

The word "elders" was used to describe leaders in both the Jewish and Gentile communities. The word "church" is used in our sense of a local Church, like a diocese.

They were connected by faith, but they had local leaders to teach and guide the people in each community. The universal Church was beginning to take shape.

Paul and Barnabas brought the news of what they witnessed to the Church in Antioch. The new faith in God was accepted by the Gentiles.

In the letters of Paul, he argues strongly for the unique expression of that Christian faith. These new converts did not have to become Jews and follow Jewish ritual, too.

Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-5a
This passage begins and ends with a focus on a new creation, alluding to the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 43:19 and 65:17. The sea/abyss was connected with bad things: the world before creation, the Great Flood, the realm of the first Beast in Revelation 13:1 and the place of imprisonment of Satan in Revelation 20:3.

God is the creator and the One, who "will dwell with them." The author repeats the Old Testament promise of a new covenant with God: "They will be His people" (see Jeremiah 30:22, 31:33). The new creation returns to the conditions of the Garden of Genesis 2, before there was "death or mourning, wailing or pain."

Disobedience brought exile from the original setting, which was created for mankind by God.

The destruction of what is created is not mentioned without a new beginning, a new creation, to replace it.

A new and better environment is coming for the faithful remnant. God did not just destroy the evil, which infected His creation. He intended to bring about something better for the human race.

Gospel: John 13:31-33a, 34-35
This scene comes during the Last Supper. The evangelist contrasts two departures. Judas leaves to betray Jesus to those who oppose Him. Jesus will leave in obedience to the will of the Father. He will return to them.

From this point in the Gospel until the end of chapter 16, Jesus addresses His disciples. It is His last testament and teaching to them on the night before He will give Himself up to death on the Cross.

Jesus gave His disciples a model and a command at the beginning of the meal when He washed their feet in John 13:15. He again gives them an example and command to them: "As I have loved you, so you also should love one another."

The disciple is faithful within a community of disciples. To "love one another" is repeated by Jesus three times in these few verses. Jesus offers His disciples a new way of living.

Judas left the group. The remaining disciples are exhorted by Jesus to care for one another. In the early Church, the presence of the Risen Lord will be found in the midst of His disciples.

The shrinking numbers of priests available to serve in the parishes has emphasized the importance of the one who presides over the Eucharist.

At the same time, I have felt the importance of the parish community in bringing that Real Presence to life. I have often been awed and humbled by the example and sacrifices, which are made by faithful members of the community.

It deepens my commitment to this particular community of disciples, where I have been assigned to serve.

The parishioners demonstrate the practical meaning of the Gospel. They also help me experience more deeply the presence of the Lord in the midst of His disciples.

Our weekend assistant has developed his own community of the faithful at the time of the Mass, which he celebrates almost every week. They have embraced him. I think that he feels a sense of belonging.

I know that he works very hard on the homily each week, to be sure that he is delivering a message that is faithful to the Gospel and relevant to the people who come at the invitation of the Lord.

We encourage one another to recognize the presence of the Lord among us.

Fr. Richard C. Macey is pastor of Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven.