Fifth Sunday of Easter Year B 2024

Title

We Trust Him not People

This is difficult to discuss in a homily, for it touches my life in many ways. I will work on being brief and not telling too many stories.

Outline

It is difficult to know whom to trust

Who is genuine?

A discussion of Tolkien on an Ave Maria podcast noted that the palantir is propaganda - it is directed by the one who controls it. And thus it was both media outlets of Tolkien’s day and today. They, of course, rely on creating anxiety and a sense of control.

Thus it is natural that the Jerusalem Church should be wary of the chief persecutor who comes in talking about their conversion. It is not until Barnabas, one of them, a trusted person, tell’s Paul’s story that they believe Paul’s story. But perhaps they did not pay enough attention to why Paul left Damascus, for he starts trying to convert Hellenists as in Damascus and as Stephen had tried to do in Jerusalem and gets the same reaction, attempted murder. This time, however, the Church took quick action and sent him a long ways away - they did not want another Stephen - and then the Church in Palestine had peace.

Of course, this was divine providence, but it also shows that we need to pay attention to truth, for relational patterns repeat.

Now jump to John

The Epistle tells us to trust our hearts if they do not condemn us, so long as “we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.” That is, our conscience is properly formed. But not to trust our hearts if they condemn us but to go to God who is “greater than our hearts and knows everything” - he, including Jesus’ teaching, can show us the marks of grace (“loving deed and truth”) and whether or conscience is properly formed. Also remember that the devil is the father of lies.

The Gospel explains this. Jesus’ word does the job of pruning the false our of our lives so that we bear fruit. That means live like him - a vine bears grapes according to the vine’s nature.

But this change of life is not instantaneous. We have to remain. It takes continuous living with Jesus to bear fruit, not momentary. And there are some branches which look a part of the vine structurally but are not remaining in him and they need cutting out, not by you or me, but by the Father. They have become false although they appear outwardly true until you look at their fruit. Their piety is propaganda.

But if we are true and remain his “sap” will flow through us and what we pray for will be his will so “it will be done for you.” We then are not wayward twigs but participating in divine providence so that the Father is glorified.

There is a lot in these passages, but let me point to these lessons

First, watch what and who you listen to. There are some out there who are speaking falsehoods or distortions every time they open their mouths, there are some who put the true into a false perspective because they live in that perspective. Spend your time listening to Jesus in whatever way and talking with those who talk like Jesus. You control who programs your mind.

Second, realize that there is dead wood in the Church and it may look outwardly like living vine. Now it is not your job to judge, much less to prune, but let yourself be drawn to those who are bearing fruit and let them be your models. (I think of the trees around here - you cannot tell well in winter which parts are dead, but once spring comes you can, although each has a use in God’s providence.)

Third, make sure you are among those remaining in the vine. This is not just by reading and meditating on the gospels so that they ooze out your pores, not just by eucharistic adoration and communion, but by in your examination of conscience asking whether you are doing what he says and making decisions to change if you are not. Then your prayer life will be most vibrant.

Let our focus be on being true ourselves, on remaining in Jesus ourselves, and on seeing if our own fruit is increasing and on asking Jesus to flow through you. Then we will know we are not dead wood for we will be luxurious branches.