Word to the Wise
Sunday, April 19, 2015 - 3rd Sunday of Easter - B
[Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 John 2:1-5a; Luke 24:35-48]The way we can be sure we know him is to keep his commandments. Those who say, "I know him," but do not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. [1 John]
In the late 1980's - early 1990's, I served my Dominican province as director of novices. The novitiate is a year of discernment in which the novice is supposed to learn the ways and byways of living religious life according to the constitutions of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). I challenged them to use the year to answer a question: "Does becoming a Dominican tell the truth about me?" If all the novice could do is follow the rules and "show up" but not "internalize" the spirit and intent of Dominican religious life, then he would really not be telling the truth. This would be a terrible irony because one of the mottoes of the Dominican order is VERITAS (Truth)!
The First Letter of John is not speaking of just "following the rules." Christ's commandment of love may involve some structured life so that the church can exist in an orderly manner, but structures alone do not guarantee love. This commandment must be internalized so that we act from a motive of love. St. Paul uses the expression of "having the mind of Christ."[1 Cor. 2:16]. Obviously, repeated external violations of a common way of life can reveal a lack of identity with the truth, but even the most observant person externally may be empty inside. In this season of Easter, as we reflect on the impact of the resurrection of the Lord, we can ask ourselves how well we truly embrace his Truth. AMEN