Los discípulos estaban en una habitación cerrada temiendo por sus vidas cuando Jesús se les apareció y dijo: “La paz esté con ustedes.” Estaban emocionados de volver a verlo. Jesús repitió: “La paz esté con ustedes.” ¿Por qué Jesús repite Paz esté con ustedes?
John Pilch escribió: “La palabra hebrea para “paz” es muy rica y tiene al menos ocho significados diferentes. Cuando Jesús dice a sus discípulos asustados, “La Paz esté con ustedes”, declara una realidad fáctica. Su resurrección ha ganado la paz inquebrantable para ellos; por lo tanto, no es apropiado para traducir su declaración como un deseo: la paz sea con ustedes. “Jesús no les está deseando la paz; declara con firme seguridad de que la poseen, de ahí que se debe descartar todo temor”.
Piensen en eso por un momento. La resurrección de Jesús ganó la paz – ya no hay ninguna razón para temer o preocuparse – sólo viven en su paz. Pero eso es difícil de hacer. Les tomó a los discípulos un tiempo para darse cuenta de la paz. En Pentecostés se dieron cuenta de la verdadera paz y luego audazmente proclamaron que Jesús era el Mesías. Pasaron de la clandestinidad por temor a las autoridades a salir a las calles y en el templo proclamando que Jesús es el Señor. Fue sólo porque después de Pentecostés tenían el coraje de salir de su escondite.
Cuando Jesús repitió: “La paz esté con ustedes.” La segunda vez, él continuó diciendo “Como el Padre me ha enviado, así también los envío yo”. Y habiendo dicho esto, sopló sobre ellos y les dijo, “Reciban al Espíritu Santo. A los que les perdonen los pecados, les quedarán perdonados; y a los que no se los perdonen, les quedarán sin perdonar.”
Cuando el Espíritu Santo descendió sobre los discípulos, era diferente a todo lo que la gente había visto en su vida. No sabían cómo describirlo. La mejor descripción era que sonaba como una ráfaga de viento impetuoso que llenó toda la casa. También había los que decían que parecía como lenguas de fuego que se repartieron y se posaron sobre cada uno de ellos.
Después de esto, ya no se escondieron detrás de las puertas cerradas por temor por sus vidas. Ellos predicaron el Evangelio que Jesús resucitó de entre los muertos. Ellos lo habían visto, hablado con él y comió con él. ¡Estaba vivo!
¡Cambió sus vidas y cambió el mundo para siempre!
Se puede cambiar nuestras vidas también si estamos dispuestos a dejarlo. Los discípulos esperaban el Espíritu Santo como Jesús les dijo. Estaban ansiosos por el Espíritu Santo y querían que el Espíritu Santo llegara a ellos. Ellos querían la paz que Jesús les prometió. Y dispuestos permiten que el poder del Espíritu Santo descienda sobre ellos de una manera poderosa.
¿Qué pasaría si dejamos que el Espíritu Santo consuma totalmente nuestras vidas hoy en día? ¿Sería como los discípulos? Ellos hablaron en otras lenguas; sanaron a los enfermos y tenía el poder de perdonar los pecados. Estos regalos están presentes aún hoy en día. El perdón de los pecados viene dado por el sacerdote en el sacramento de la penitencia.
Hoy recordamos el primer Pentecostés, cuando el Espíritu Santo descendió sobre los discípulos. Ese fue un evento que cambia el mundo. ¿Por qué no hace eso mismo trabajo poder en nosotros hoy?
En el momento en que Pablo escribió a los Gálatas, las cosas eran ya diferentes. El celo por el Evangelio fue menor de lo que era para los primeros discípulos. Pablo ofrece instrucciones sobre cómo vivir en el Espíritu. Comienza identificando los deseos de la carne; otra palabra para el mundo. Entonces Pablo los exhorta a evitar estos deseos del mundo. Pero Pablo no se detiene allí. Hay esperanza para el futuro. Él dijo: “En cambio, el fruto del Espíritu es amor, gozo, paz, paciencia, amabilidad, bondad, fidelidad, mansedumbre, dominio de sí mismo.” Pablo da las características de la vida cristiana en el mundo.
Pablo comenzó la lista de virtudes con amor. Cristo dijo a Amar a Dios con todo tu corazón ya tu prójimo como a ti mismo. Entendió que el amor era el más grande de los mandamientos. Es por eso que Pablo comenzó la lista con amor.
Continuó con alegría. Todo el mundo quiere estar cerca de una persona feliz. Pero una persona que tiene la alegría es diferente de alguien que es feliz. Alegría está estrechamente relacionada con la alegría y la felicidad, a pesar de la alegría es más un estado del ser que una emoción; resultado de la elección. La alegría es parte de ser un cristiano. La alegría es consecuencia de la paz; pero sólo la paz que Dios puede dar.
La próxima virtud que enumera Pablo es la paz. Jesús se apareció a los discípulos y les dijo: “La paz esté con ustedes.” Fue muy importante para Jesús que dijo de nuevo. La paz es muy difícil de alcanzar hoy. Siempre hablamos de la paz; la paz en el Medio Oriente, la paz entre Israel y Palestina, la paz entre Rusia y Estados Unidos, la paz entre ISIS y el resto del mundo, y la lista sigue y sigue. Incluso nos deseamos la paz dentro de nuestras familias en las que los miembros de la familia no han hablado entre sí durante décadas.
La paz es tan difícil de alcanzar y no satisface incluso cuando las partes en conflicto negocian y firman un tratado de paz. Una de las partes es siempre insatisfecha con alguna parte del acuerdo. Este tipo de paz es la ausencia de guerra y la lucha entre sí.
Pero la paz que Jesús dio a sus discípulos era diferente. Era una paz que era profunda y duradera. Creo que la verdadera paz de Dios es lo que dio a los discípulos el valor en Pentecostés. Ya no atendidos por las cosas de este mundo porque no tenían paz en la promesa de la vida eterna.
Los escritos de Pablo son tanto para nosotros hoy como lo era a los Gálatas. “Si tenemos la vida del Espíritu, actuemos conforme a ese mismo Espíritu.” Eso es difícil. Ha sido difícil a lo largo de toda la historia. Considere la historia de los israelitas. Los deseos del mundo se convertirían en demasiado y caerían lejos de Dios. Luego se arrepienten y seguir a Dios y recibir sus bendiciones. Los deseos del mundo todavía están con nosotros hoy y serán en el futuro. Debemos esforzarnos por seguir el Espíritu en todo lo que hacemos.
Nos encontramos con la verdadera paz en el servicio a los demás. El Espíritu nos lleva a ayudar a los pobres, a la viuda, al huérfano, al extranjero y el inmigrante. Papa Francisco es un brillante ejemplo de servicio a los demás.
¿Vamos a seguir el Espíritu y llegar a la persona sin hogar o el inmigrante? ¿O los deseos del mundo que nos consumirá hasta el punto que estamos demasiado ocupados para molestarse con ellos? ¿Vamos a seguir al Espíritu en la reparación de las relaciones rotas dentro de nuestras familias y amigos? ¿O los deseos del mundo en los celos, la envidia y el egoísmo mantenernos separados? ¿Vamos a dejar que la paz que sólo viene de Dios nos abruman por completo por lo que tenemos el coraje de luchar por la verdad?
En algunos momentos el diácono o sacerdote nos pedirán intercambiar un signo de la paz. ¿Cuando decimos: “La paz esté con ustedes” le decimos en serio la paz que Dios da?
La paz esté con ustedes.
Monthly Archives: May 2015
S20150524 Pentecost B
Filed under Homilies
20150524 Pentecost B
The disciples were in a locked room fearing for their lives when Jesus appeared to them and said “Peace be with you.” They were excited that they were with seeing him again. Jesus repeated it “Peace be with you.” Why did Jesus repeat Peace be with you?
John Pilch wrote: “The Hebrew word for “peace” is very rich and has at least eight different meanings. When Jesus says to his frightened disciples, “Peace to you,” he declares a factual reality. His resurrection has gained unshakable peace for them; hence it is inappropriate to translate his statement as a wish: “[May] peace be to [or with] you.” Jesus is not wishing them peace; he declares with firm assurance that they possess it, hence they should discard all fear.”
Think about that for a moment. Jesus’ resurrection gained peace – no longer any reason to fear or worry – just live in his peace. But that is hard to do. It took the disciples a while to realize that peace. At Pentecost that they realized real peace and then boldly proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah. They went from hiding for fear of the authorities to going out into the streets and into the temple proclaiming that Jesus is Lord. It was only because of Pentecost that they had the courage to leave their hiding place.
When Jesus repeated “Peace be with you.” the second time, he went on to say “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained. ”
When the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples, it was unlike anything people had ever seen. They didn’t know how to describe it. The best description was that it sounded like a strong driving wind that filled the entire house. There was also what appeared to them as tongues of a fire that parted and came to rest on each one of them.
After this, they were no longer hiding behind locked doors fearing for their lives. They preached the Gospel that Jesus was raised from the dead. They had seen him, talked with him and ate with him. He was alive!
It changed their lives and changed the world forever!
It can change our lives too if we are willing to let it. The disciples waited for the Holy Spirit as Jesus told them. They were looking forward to the Holy Spirit and wanted the Holy Spirit to come to them. They wanted the peace that Jesus promised them. And they willing let the power of the Holy Spirit descend upon them in a powerful way.
What would happen if we let the Holy Spirit totally consume our lives today? Would it be like the disciples? They spoke in other languages; they healed the sick and had the power to forgive sins. These gifts are present even today. The forgiveness of sins is given by the priest in the sacrament of penance.
Today we remember the first Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Disciples. That was a world changing event. Why doesn’t that same power work in us today?
By the time Paul wrote to the Galatians, things were already different. The zeal for the Gospel was less than it was for the early disciples. Paul provides instructions on how to live in the Spirit. He starts by identifying the desires of the flesh; another word for world. Then Paul admonishes them to avoid these desires of the world. But Paul doesn’t stop there. There is hope for the future. He said “In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Paul gives the characteristics of a Christian living in the world.
Paul started the list of virtues with love. Christ said to Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. He understood that love was the greatest of the commandments. That’s why Paul started the list with love.
He continued with joy. Everyone wants to be around a happy person. But a person who has joy is different from someone who is happy. Joy is closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a result of choice. Joy is part of being a Christian. Joy is a result of peace; but only the peace that God can give.
The next virtue that Paul lists is peace. Jesus appeared to the disciples and said “Peace be with you.” It was so important to Jesus that he said it again. Peace is very elusive today. We always talk of peace; peace in the Middle East, peace between Israel and Palestine, peace between Russia and the United States, peace between ISIS and the rest of the world, and the list goes on and on. We even desire peace within our families where family members haven’t spoken to each other for decades.
Peace is so elusive and does not satisfy even when the fighting parties negotiate and sign a peace treaty. One party is always dissatisfied with some part of the agreement. This kind of peace is just an absence of war and fighting with each other.
But the peace that Jesus gave to the disciples was different. It was a peace that was deep and lasting. I believe that the real peace from God is what gave the disciples the courage on Pentecost. They no longer cared for the things of this world because they had peace in the promise of eternal life.
Paul’s writing is as much for us today as it was to the Galatians. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.” That is difficult. It has been difficult throughout all of history. Consider the history of the Israelites. The desires of the world would become too much and they would fall away from God. Then they would repent and follow God and receive his blessings. The desires of the world are still with us today and will be in the future. We must strive to follow the Spirit in all that we do.
We find true peace in serving others. The Spirit leads us to help the poor, the widow, the orphan, the stranger and the immigrant. Pope Francis is a shining example of serving others.
Will we follow the Spirit and reach out to the homeless person or the immigrant? Or will the desires of the world consume us to the point that we are too busy to bother with them? Will we follow the Spirit in mending broken relationships within our families and friends? Or will the desires of the world in jealousy, envy and selfishness keep us apart? Will we let the peace that only comes from God completely overwhelm us so we have the courage to stand up for truth?
During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Deacon or Priest will ask us to exchange a Sign of Peace. When we say “Peace be with you” will we really mean the peace that God gives?
Peace be with you.
Filed under Homilies
20150523 Pentecost Vigil B
It seems appropriate that the first reading for the Vigil tells how different languages came about and the reading on Pentecost tells how everyone heard the Gospel message in their own language. The first reading tonight explains how all the people of the world spoke the same language. I wonder if they still had problems communicating like we do today – we all speak United States English and we have problems understanding each other.
Wouldn’t it be nice to speak a word and have it mean the same thing throughout the world? Everyone would know what you were talking about and understand you. Let’s put this reading in context. It is easy to condemn the people for building a tower to heaven. But this was after the flood so they wanted to make sure that the tower would be high enough that it would survive another flood.
Could you imagine what it was like the day that God confused their languages? All of a sudden, you don’t understand a thing that I am saying. You understood me five minutes ago so what is wrong with you now? So you begin searching for someone who can understand you. You go from person to person until you find someone, then the two of you search until you find another person who understands you, then the three of you search for another and on and on and on.
Then the groups of people who understand each other begin to form cities and nations. They spread out over the earth to have some space to themselves. And then the bickering and fighting really begin. This was the result of our sinfulness and arrogance that we could overcome God.
Tomorrow morning the picture is completely different. After the Holy Spirit descends on the Apostles, they speak in the native language of the people visiting Jerusalem.
Listen to the reading from Acts:
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
After a long list of nations, it continues: … as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”
By the mighty acts of God through the Holy Spirit, all people were united again in one body, one spirit in Christ. Each could understand the Gospel message that Christ was crucified for our sins, died and was buried, then was resurrected from the dead to bring us new life. This was the beginning of the Church, not made with hands, of the believers that we are a part of today.
The second reading talks about Hope.
Hope.
Hope is something that some people yearn for every day. That is because without God, there is no hope. And most of the world does not know God. Hope only exists if we are looking for something unseen. In hope we were saved. That was an unseen act. And now with hope we look forward to eternal life. Even the Spirit prays for us and intercedes for us in our weakness that we will always serve God and follow his ways. This gives us the hope of eternal life in a glorified body with God in heaven.
Jesus said that all who thirst should come and drink. The Holy Spirit would flow out of each person who believes in him. This is how the Gospel is spread throughout the world to all people who become one body in Christ. The hope that we have is spread to a world that does not have hope, to a world that is lost and looking for more to life.
Will we say yes to Jesus and let the Holy Spirit dwell in us? Or will we be like the people of Babel who couldn’t understand one another? Will we let the Holy Spirit flow through us to bring hope to a confused and troubled world filled with bickering and fighting?
Come Holy Spirit; make me an instrument of your peace.
Filed under Homilies
