First reading: Acts 14:21b-27
Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-5a
Gospel: John 13: 31-33a.34-35
The first reading taken from the Acts of Apostle captures a pivotal moment of the early Christian mission as Paul and Barnabas conclude their first missionary journey. After preaching in Derbe and making many disciples they return to Antioch through the cities where they faced intense persecution, namely Lystra and Iconium. Their deliberate return highlights their commitment to support the new believers, and this helps to establish enduring church communities there.
Historically this passage reflects the early church’s expansion in the gentile world. Christianity was seen as a sect of Judaism. The Roman empire’s infrastructure, particularly the roads, enabled such a mission.
But there was still such hostility in places of strong Jewish influence. In Lystra, for example Paul, was stoned and left for dead, but he returns, despite our and their concerns for his safety, because of their pastoral care.
Paul and Barnabas appoint elders in the community. This shows us the early leadership and structure in the earlier Christian communities. Their action also reflects a theology rooted in perseverance. Christianity was never seen as an easy path, but one shaped with suffering, community and mission. Their success was seen as God’s, not their own. Significantly, they rejoiced that the mission must go through hardships, to enter the kingdom of God.
The passage calls for true discipleship. Paul and Barnabas did not measure their success through comfort and popularity, but through faithfulness and fruits of persecution. The question may be: what are we willing to risk building others in faith? In the culture of self-preservation, the reading invites us back to the mission and joyful dependence on God’s grace.
The second reading tells of the new world that signifies the new relationship of God and his people. All the worst is gone. Everything marked by sin and pressure will pass away. The complete renewal of the world is envisioned. God and his people are to have eternal union. The one called Emanuel is the profound healing, and the brokenness of the world will end. All will be restored. The perfect community of Christians will have purity, love and fulfilment. There should be hope in the promised power of God. God’s promise is eternal. The voice from the throne fulfils the ancient promise of God.
In the Gospel passage of today a profound commandment is given during the last supper immediately after Judas’ departure to betray him. This moment is pivotal marking the transition of Jesus’s earthly ministry to his impending crucifixion and glorification. Jesus begins talking of his glorification, now the son of God is glorified speaking of his glorification. Now the son of God will be glorified.
In the Gospel of John glorification often means death, resurrection and ascension. Jesus acknowledging his eminent departure and the fact that they cannot come with him where he is going, he gives them a new commandment: love one another as I have love you. While the directive to love is not new in the Jewish tradition, Jesus’ emphasis on love was new.
Loving like Jesus means, loving others unconditionally, even those who doubt. Unconditional love that demonstrates God’s love is vulnerable love because it is a hurting love. He loves without agenda. Love even if you are not loved back. We are created to love and suffer. When he washes his apostles’ feet, he washes them knowing that they will abandon him and he will die alone on the cross. In loving those who do not love us, Love invites us to change and change those who are loved.