This week's reflection
LOVING ONE ANOTHER AS JESUS LOVED
We can only start to imagine the surprise and unsettling effect on Peter when Cornelius, a Roman centurion, prostrated himself before him. Cornelius was a representative of a hated and oppressive foreign government and here he publicly humiliates himself in front of a Galilean fisherman! Peter’s own response is as generous and spontaneous as that of Cornelius: ‘God has no favourites!’ In
saying this the barrier separating Jews and Gentiles is in the process of being
shattered. When the gift of the Spirit is poured out so obviously on this Gentile
household Peter can no longer see any reason to maintain long-held prejudices
and instructs his companions to baptise them.
Breaking down barriers is at the heart of the readings for today as the Gospel
invites us to no longer see God as a distant master to be feared. God loves us with
that same love which leads Jesus to give his life for us. Changing our perception
of God is one barrier to be overcome, but there is another, our perception of
ourselves. Fear can keep us from God, from ourselves, and others. Invited to
see ourselves as God’s friends we are also invited to respond by sharing in Jesus’
mission. To use the Gospel’s words, we are commissioned to bear fruit, to
overcome our reserve, and join in the task of loving one another as Jesus has already loved us. In Jesus’ resurrection, we are not just saved from death, perhaps even more importantly, we are shown how to live.
Christopher Monaghan CP
We can only start to imagine the surprise and unsettling effect on Peter when Cornelius, a Roman centurion, prostrated himself before him. Cornelius was a representative of a hated and oppressive foreign government and here he publicly humiliates himself in front of a Galilean fisherman! Peter’s own response is as generous and spontaneous as that of Cornelius: ‘God has no favourites!’ In
saying this the barrier separating Jews and Gentiles is in the process of being
shattered. When the gift of the Spirit is poured out so obviously on this Gentile
household Peter can no longer see any reason to maintain long-held prejudices
and instructs his companions to baptise them.
Breaking down barriers is at the heart of the readings for today as the Gospel
invites us to no longer see God as a distant master to be feared. God loves us with
that same love which leads Jesus to give his life for us. Changing our perception
of God is one barrier to be overcome, but there is another, our perception of
ourselves. Fear can keep us from God, from ourselves, and others. Invited to
see ourselves as God’s friends we are also invited to respond by sharing in Jesus’
mission. To use the Gospel’s words, we are commissioned to bear fruit, to
overcome our reserve, and join in the task of loving one another as Jesus has already loved us. In Jesus’ resurrection, we are not just saved from death, perhaps even more importantly, we are shown how to live.
Christopher Monaghan CP