A Prediction Of The Different Fates That Will Be Peter's And John's

"Peter looked back and saw that the disciple JESUS loved was following as well, the one who had reclined close to JESUS at the supper, and had asked HIM, 'LORD, who is to betray YOU?'  On seeing him, Peter asked JESUS, 'LORD, what about him?'  JESUS answered, 'If I want him to remain until I come, is that any concern of yours?  Follow ME!'

Because of this, the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die.  Yet JESUS did not say to Peter, 'He will not die,' but 'Suppose I want him to remain until I come back, what concern is that of yours?'

It is this disciple who testifies about the things and has written these things down, and we know that his testimony is true.  But JESUS did many other things; if all were written down, I think the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." - John 21:20-25 

(The Gospel ends with a prediction of the different fates that will be Peter's and John's.  Peter died a martyr's death in Rome in the year 66 or 67 A.D.; John was still living in the year 90 A.D.  He was the last of the witnesses of CHRIST and many thought he would not die until the LORD would come again: hence, the Gospel insists that JESUS had not made such a promise.

The last paragraph was placed there by those associated with John at the time of his death.)

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The Trial Before Festus

"Some days later King Agrippa and his sister Bernice arrived in Caesarea to greet Festus.  As they were to stay there several days, Festus told the king about Paul's case and said to him,

'We have here a man whom Felix left as a prisoner.  When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews accused him and asked me to sentence him.  I told them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over a man without giving him an opportunity to defend himself in front of his accusers.  So, they came, and I took my seat without delay on the tribunal and sent for the man.

When the accusers had the floor, they did not accuse him of any of the crimes that I was led to think he had committed; instead, they quarreled with him about religion and about a certain JESUS who has died but whom Paul asserted to be alive.  I did not know what to do about this case, so I asked Paul if he wanted to go to Jerusalem to be tried there.  But Paul appealed to be judged by the emperor.  So, I ordered that he be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar'." - Acts 25:13-21  

(Due process.   It is not the custom of the Romans to hand over a man without giving him an opportunity to defend himself in front of his accusers.)

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Ecumenism

"I pray not only for these, but also for those who through their word will believe in ME.  May they all be one, as YOU FATHER are in ME and I AM in YOU.  May they be one in US, so that the world may believe that you have sent ME.

I have given them the glory YOU have given ME, that they may be one as WE are one: I in them and YOU in ME.  Thus, they shall reach perfection in unity; and the world shall know that YOU have sent ME, and that I have loved them, just as YOU loved ME.

FATHER, since YOU have given them to ME, I want them to be with ME where I AM, and see the glory YOU gave ME, for YOU loved ME before the foundation of the world.

Righteous FATHER, the world has not known YOU, but I have known YOU, and these have known that YOU have sent ME.  As I revealed YOUR name to them, so will I continue to reveal it, so that the love with which YOU loved ME may be in them, and I also may be in them." - John 17:20-26  

(In our times, we have a better understanding of these past difficulties.  Many Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants are attempting to unite as believers.  At the same time, however, new problems have arisen within each Church.  Today Christians disagree and are split, not only in their political options, but also in their understanding of CHRIST and their views on how HIS message is best delivered in our time.

Ecumenism, that is, efforts to reconcile in truth and bring the Churches together, demands that we overcome the new dissensions that threaten the internal unity of the Church.  All of us must work so that the unity of all Christians may be realized as CHRIST desires, and by the means HE wants.  In any case, nothing can be done without obeying the truth and doing the truth.  In no way can we disregard Peter's charism of unity that is granted to Peter's successors.)

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The Journey Of GOD's People: Triumphant Hymn Of Thanks

 "Arise, O GOD, scatter YOUR enemies; let YOUR foes flee before YOU.

As smoke is blown by the wind, so blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish before YOU.

But let the righteous be glad and exult before GOD; 

let them sing to GOD and shout for joy.

Sing to GOD, sing praises to HIS name; open the way, to HIM who rides upon the clouds; YAHWEH is HIS name.  Rejoice in HIS presence.

FATHER of orphans and protector of widows--such is our GOD in HIS holy dwelling.

HE gives shelter to the homeless, sets the prisoners free; but keeps the rebels in their jail."

- Psalm 68:2-3. 4-5. 6-7

(This is the most picturesque--and obscure--of all the psalms.  In the liturgy, it particularly celebrates the Ascension of CHRIST.  And no wonder: it is a hymn fit for the climax victory of GOD, fighting for HIS people and there is a wild joy, running through it.  GOD rides on the clouds but marches across the desert too.  HE feeds HIS starving people.  HE takes willing captives with HIM to HIS holy place on the hill; HIS might is in the skies.  In the same way, the Son of Man whose chariot was a cloud [Daniel 7:13, cf. Matthew 26:64] went on foot through the wilderness and fed HIS people there [John 6].  When HE ascended, HE took a host of 'captives' with HIM [Ephesians 4:8], and HIS power is felt from heaven, where HE is seated at the FATHER's right hand.

This psalm is adequate to celebrate our liberation, as we journey toward the Promised Land.) 

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Matthias Elected

"It was during this time that Peter stood up in the midst of the community - about one hundred and twenty in all - and he said, 'Brothers, it was necessary that the Scriptures referring to Judas be fulfilled.  The Holy Spirit had spoken through David about the one who would lead the crowd coming to arrest JESUS.  He was one of our number and had been called to share our common ministry.

(We know that he bought a filed with the reward of his sin; yet he threw himself headlong to his death, his body burst open, and all his bowels spilled out.  This event became known to all the people living in Jerusalem and they named that field Akeldama in their own language, which means Field of Blood).

In the book of Psalms, it is written: Let his house become deserted and may no one live in it.  But it is also written: May another take his office.  Therefore, we must choose someone from among those who were with us during all the time that the LORD JESUS moved about with us, beginning with John's baptism until the day when JESUS was taken away from us.  One of these has to become, with us, a witness to HIS resurrection.'

Then they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, also known as Justus, and Matthias.  They prayed: 'YOU know, LORD, what is in the hearts of all.  Show us, therefore, which of the two YOU have chosen to replace Judas in this apostolic ministry which he deserted to go to the place he deserved.'

Then they drew lots between the two and the choice fell on Matthias who was added to the eleven apostles. - Acts 1:15-26  

(Peter is acting here as head of the primitive Church.  The death of Judas has left a vacancy in the "college of apostles" whose twelve members bring to mind the twelve sons of Jacob.  Just as the Israel of old never accepted being deprived of one or many of its tribes, so too, Peter, will not permit the group of the Twelve to have one of its members amputated.

Peter will find a way to allow GOD to make known HIS choice.  We may be surprised today that such an important decision could have been made by casting lots.  Is this not a sort of washing one's hands of the decision-making process?  We must not forget that this episode is happening in a community whose religious culture welcomes signs from GOD.  They know the qualities they would want to see in the candidates and two are eligible.  Now the question is which one to choose?  They pray to GOD to make HIS decision known and promise to accept the outcome.  This election process, not excluding those used by the cardinals in conclave, where the real challenges to the Church have often been compromised by the dishonest voting of interested parties?

It is good to focus in this passage on the conditions which Peter laid down: To have followed JESUS from John's baptism until the day when HE was taken from us.  The Good News begins with the preaching of John and culminates with the ascension [Acts 13:14-31].  In this way Mark's is the typical gospel, Matthew and Luke have both added an introduction, the infancy narratives, while John makes use of a prologue to act as a kind of preface.  For each of the evangelists, it is the resurrection accounts that dominate their gospels and give them meaning.

Like on so many occasions in the Old Testament [Jacob, Samuel, David...] GOD again chooses the second and possibly even the simpler person: let us examine the "calling card" of the first: Joseph named Barsabbas, also known as Justus, while it is Matthias, without any other name or nickname, who is chosen by GOD.)

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They Were Baptized In The Name Of The LORD JESUS.

"While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and came to Ephesus.  There he found some disciples whom he asked, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?'  They answered, 'We have not even heard that anyone may receive the Holy Spirit.'  Paul then asked, 'What kind of baptism have you received?'  And they answered, 'The baptism of John.'

Paul then explained, 'John's baptism was for conversion, but he himself said they should believe in the one who was to come, and that one is JESUS.'  Upon hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the LORD JESUS.  Then Paul laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came down upon them; and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.  There were about twelve of them in all.

Paul went into the synagogue and for three months he preached and discussed there boldly, trying to convince them about the Kingdom of GOD." - Acts 19:1-8  

(For three years, Paul wanted to evangelize Ephesus.  Ephesus was one of the most beautiful and largest cities in the empire.

Luke wanted to relate the baptism of these twelve disciples of John the Baptist. As we have just said they knew something of JESUS' teaching, but as for being his disciples, they lacked what was most important: they had not received the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit came down upon them.  We must not forget that in the beginning, the Christian language was limited.  We know that the Holy Spirit is much more than the manifestations that follow the laying on of hands.  So, we have such statements as: we have not heard that there is the Holy Spirit, while other texts state: that the Holy Spirit be received.  The laying on of hands is meant to confirm the change worked at baptism through the experience of the gifts of the Spirit [1 Corinthians 12:7].  Many Christians would be surprised today if they have never had this tangible experience of GOD.  Let us not say that these gifts are no longer useful or that such things do not happen today.  What is important, surely, is to believe and live one's faith rather than to feel it.  Such an experience, however, is often the shock that gives rise to a re-blossoming of our faith: it shows us that GOD is near, and HE is master of our inner self.   Perhaps our rationalist temperament and our Church life, mistrustful of all that is a personal expression, serves as a dampener of the gifts of the Spirit; perhaps it is rather the poverty of our commitment to JESUS.

They were baptized in the name of the LORD JESUS.  Are we to presume that in the beginning baptism was in the name of JESUS and not in the name of the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT?  It is not certain.

In the name of signifies by the power of; maybe the baptism in the name of the FATHER and of the SON and of the Holy Spirit was called the baptism in the name of JESUS to distinguish it from the baptism of John and the baptisms of other religions.  It is also possible that at the moment of receiving the water in the name of the Holy Trinity, the person baptized had to make a personal invocation in the Name of JESUS.  Possibly also in early times, baptism was given "in the Name of JESUS" and later the Church modified the formula in order to distinguish itself from groups that believed in JESUS but without recognizing HIM as Son of GOD, born of the FATHER.  There would be nothing to astonish us in such a change: the Church of the apostles had given the first formula; the same Church gave the second formula attributed to JESUS in Matthew 28:19.)

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Proclaim The Good News To All Creation

"Then HE told them, 'Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation.  The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; the one who refuses to believe will be condemned.  Signs like these will accompany those who have believed: in MY name they will cast out demons and speak new languages; they will pick up snakes, and if they drink anything poisonous, they will be unharmed; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.'

So then, after speaking to them, the LORD JESUS was taken up into heaven and took HIS place at the right hand of GOD.  The Eleven went forth and preached everywhere, while the LORD worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it." - Mark 16:15-20  

(The Good News is the seed that will be planted in the world and will flourish, in its proper time, in every field of human endeavor.  Salvation is not a matter of saving isolated souls or individual beings.  The Gospel is to be proclaimed to all creation in all activities and acts of those who have been renewed by baptism.  They are to be the yeast that transforms human history.)

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The Way

 "After spending sometime there, he left and traveled from place to place through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples.

A certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived at Ephesus.  He was an eloquent speaker and an authority on the Scriptures, and he had some knowledge of the way of the LORD.  With great enthusiasm he preached, and taught correctly, about JESUS, although he knew only of John's baptism.  As he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, Priscilla and Aquila heard him; so, they took him home with them and explained to him the way more accurately.  As Apollos wished to go to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him.  When he arrived, he greatly strengthened those who, by GOD's grace, had become believers, for he vigorously refuted the Jews, proving from the Scriptures that JESUS is the Messiah." - Acts 18:23-28  

(Paul does not stay in Ephesus, the capital of the province of Asia.  He is in a hurry to return, after two and a half years of mission.  He goes up to Jerusalem and returns to Antioch, which is the first and the main among the churches in the pagan world.  Paul goes there to rest after every journey.  The life of this large community, with years of experience, and the contact with its apostles, helped him to see what the future of the Church would be.

When he leaves again, Paul visits the churches established on his second mission.  This takes him several months, so he will only arrive at Ephesus in 54 A.D.  Meanwhile a church had been established there.

During Paul's absence, Aquila, Priscilla and others resumed the first contacts that he had established in the Jewish community.  An important success: the integration of Apollos who will be one of the most valued missionaries [1 Corinthians 3:6; 4:6; 15:12].  Apollos, we are told, knew something of The Way.  We have already met this term which denoted Christianity: not only a religion, nor only a faith or morale, but all that together and more.  Apollos, like the twelve men mentioned in 19:1-7, had probably been in Palestine when JESUS was already known there.  His teaching had not yet given rise to a movement nor made a stir equal to that resulting from John the Baptist's preaching, which was followed by baptisms and commitments.

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Paul Had Made A Vow

"One night, in a vision, the LORD said to Paul, 'Do not be afraid, but continue speaking and do not be silent, for many people in this city are MINE.  I AM with you, so no one will harm you.'  So, Paul stayed a year and a half in that place, teaching the word of GOD among them.

When Gallio was governor of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the court.  And they accused him, 'This man tries to persuade us to worship GOD in ways that are against the Law.'

Paul was about to speak in his own defense when Gallio said to the Jews, 'If it were a matter of a misdeed or vicious crime, I would have to consider your complaint.  But since this is a quarrel about teachings and divine names that are proper to your own law, see to it yourselves: I refuse to judge such matters.'  And he sent them out of the court.

Then the people seized Sosthenes, a leading man of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio paid no attention to it.

Paul stayed on with the disciples in Corinth for many days; he then left them and sailed off with Priscilla and Aquila for Syria.  And as he was no longer under a vow he had taken; he shaved his head before sailing from Cenchreae." - Acts 18:9-18  

(A vision: there are not many in this book.  Perhaps Paul was wondering whether it would not be better for him to retire for a time as he had already done and as JESUS had advised in case of persecution [Matthew 10:23].   The devil increases the opposition when someone sets foot on his field: in this center of corruption, grace would triumph.

The Jews brought him before the court.  Here we have a new example of the problems Paul met in the great Roman centers.  Different peoples co-exist, and many conflicts are settled within communities according to their proper laws and customs.  Gallio, the Roman governor, has no wish to be dragged into the jungle of traditions and disputes, especially with the Jews who enjoyed religious privileges within the Roman Empire.

The Jews are furious in seeing the success of Paul that relies on the Word of GOD, that is, on their own sacred books.  They fear that the boldness of the Christians might stir a reaction from the pagans, in which case they, too, would be the victims.

They seized Sosthenes - and beat him.  A sure bet would be that this Sosthenes, a Jew, is the one mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:1.  Even if he already acted as a prominent member of the Christian group, it is doubtful whether the Jews would have attacked him before the authorities: most probably it was a group of bystanders falling on a well-known Jew.

Paul had made a vow.  He shaved his head as it was said in Numbers 6:5. All that Paul had written to turn converted pagans away from the Jewish Law did not prevent him, a Jew, from feeling at ease with the traditional forms of Jewish piety.  He knew that faith alone saves, but it was his wish to mark with a vow some secret agreement he had made with the LORD.)

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JESUS In Our Midst

"A little while, and you will see ME no more; and then a little while, and you will see ME.

Some of the disciples wondered, 'What does HE mean by, 'A little while, and you will not see ME'?  And why did HE say, 'I go to the FATHER'?' And they said to one another, 'What does HE mean by 'a little while'?  We don't understand.'

JESUS knew that they wanted to question HIM; so, HE said to them, 'You are puzzled because I told you that in a little while you will see ME no more, and then a little while later you will see ME.

Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.  You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy." - John 16:16-20 

(JESUS is in our midst, but to be aware of HIS presence requires faith.  HE HIMSELF said: "You will see ME because you live, and I also live [14:19]."  It is not important that we feel HIS presence, what matters is to persevere in HIS ways.  In order to attain mature faith, it is necessary that we be deprived of the consolation of HIS presence for more or less prolonged periods: a little while, and you will see ME no more.

For HIS disciples this happened for the first time at the moment of HIS death; later they saw HIM risen from the dead.  This will come true for us at the end of time, when we discover the glorious CHRIST whom we have awaited in faith.  No one should feel overconfident about feeling HIS presence, for example, after a conversion.  When everything seems easy, we should not look down on those who find it hard to believe or who have never felt the presence of GOD.  In a little while, perhaps, the LORD will leave us in darkness.

After JESUS rose from the dead, a real companionship would be established between HIM and HIS disciples: HE would speak to them clearly of the FATHER; they would ask in HIS name.)

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The SPIRIT Will Take What Is MINE, And Make It Known To You

"I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now.  When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into the whole truth.

He has nothing to say of himself, but he will speak of what he hears, and he will tell you of the things to come.  He will take what is MINE and make it known to you; in doing this, he will glorify ME.  All that the FATHER has is MINE; because of this I have just told you, that the Spirit will take what is MINE and make it known to you." - John 16:12-15 

(The Acts of the Apostles records how the Spirit worked in the first disciples of JESUS.  Before granting miraculous powers, the Spirit gave them joy, peace and mutual love, as well as inner certainty that JESUS had risen and was among them.

The Spirit guides missionaries: he gives them the power to perform miracles; he gives to believers the knowledge of GOD, new capacities for working, healing, serving and shaking up a sinful world.  Throughout history the Spirit would raise up people of faith, martyrs, prophets, and through them transform the world.  In this way the Savior, seemingly defeated, would be justified, and it becomes evident that the loser is Satan, who already has been condemned.  The evil spirit, great director of the worldly show, is displaced and his influence limited.  A new force, which is the Spirit, orients history and guides us towards the total truth.)

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What Is The Path Of Righteousness?

"But now I AM going to the One who sent ME, and none of you asks ME where I AM going; instead, you are overcome with grief, because of what I have said.

Believe ME, it is better for you that I go away, because as long as I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.  But if I go away, I will send HIM to you, and when HE comes, HE will vindicate the truth before a sinful world; and HE will vindicate the paths of righteousness and justice.

What is the world's sin, in regard to ME?  Disbelief.  What is the path of righteousness?  It is the path I walk, by which I go to the FATHER; and you shall see ME no more.  What is the path of justice?  It is the path on which the prince of this world will always stand condemned." - John 16:5-11  

(Starting from the day of Pentecost, the Spirit began to act in the Church, thus showing that HE was the Spirit of CHRIST.  The unbelieving Jews thought that GOD was with them, but in reality, HIS Spirit did not act among them.  So, it was clear that they had sinned [16:9] for not believing in CHRIST.

What is the path of righteousness?  The righteous One is CHRIST, and the righteous persons are those who believe in HIM without seeing HIM.

The Acts of the Apostles records how the Spirit worked in the first disciples of JESUS.  Before granting miraculous powers, the Spirit gave them joy, peace, and mutual love, as well as inner certainty that JESUS had risen and was among them.

The Spirit guides the missionaries; HE gives them the power to perform miracles; HE gives to believers the knowledge of GOD, new capacities for working, healing, serving and shaking up a sinful world.  Throughout history the Spirit would raise up people of faith, martyrs, prophets, and through them transform the world.  In this way the Savior, seemingly defeated, would be justified; and it becomes evident that the loser is Satan, who already has been condemned [verse 11].  The evil spirit, great director of the worldly show, is displaced and his influence limited.  A new force, which is the Spirit, orients history and guides us towards the total truth.)

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The Spirit Will Come

"From the FATHER, I will send you the Spirit of truth.  When this Helper has come from the FATHER, HE will be MY witness, and you, too, will be MY witnesses, for you have been with ME from the beginning." - John 15:26-27  

(The FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT.  In making us children of HIS FATHER, JESUS enables us to discover the intimate mystery of GOD.  In GOD there is communion among the three persons: the FATHER, the SON and their common SPIRIT.

We speak of their common Spirit, because JESUS said both: The FATHER will give you another Helper [14:16] and: The Helper which I will send you [15:26].  Now HE says: HE will take what is MINE and tell it to you: everything that the FATHER has is also MINE [16:15].

"The Spirit" is not a poetic figure:  it is Someone.  This has already been commented on [John 7:37; 14:1].

Starting from the day of Pentecost, the Spirit began to act in the Church, thus showing that HE was the Spirit of CHRIST.  The unbelieving Jews thought that GOD was with them, but in reality, HIS Spirit did not act among them.  So, it was clear that they had sinned [16:9] for not believing in CHRIST.)

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GOD-Love Is The Source Of Love

"My dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from GOD.  Everyone who loves, is born of GOD and knows GOD.

How did the love of GOD appear among us?  GOD sent HIS only Son into this world, that we might have life, through HIM.

This is love: not that we loved GOD, but that, HE first loved us and sent HIS Son, as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." - 1 John 4:7-10  

(Here we have the beginning of the third part of the letter:  GOD-Love is the source of love and faith.

GOD is love.  The supreme revelation, characteristic of the Christian faith.  Other religions know of a GOD who is good and compassionate: no other religion has known that the dynamism of love moves the entire creation and that its source lies in GOD-Love. 

In this beautiful text John insists on the inseparability of love of GOD and love of our neighbor.  We all know this, but sometimes we might wonder why it is so.  John gives us the paramount reason; love comes from GOD.  If we can love GOD, it is because GOD loved us first; if we love each other, it is because GOD's love extends among us.

John also links love of GOD and faith in GOD: a true Christian believer is somebody who begins by "believing in GOD's love, and that GOD is love.

HE first loved us: through HIS eternal predestination [Ephesians 1:4], the sending of HIS Son and through HIS sacrifice [Romans 5:8].  If we are authentically loving, we never feel superior nor that we have merits, as do those who boast of their good works.  We simply realize that the love of GOD works through us.

The lives of those who dedicate themselves lovingly to serving the abandoned, the sick, the elderly, and those no longer useful to society are justified and so are the lives of those who withdraw from ordinary life to dedicate themselves more totally to a more intimate love of GOD.)

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The Hostile World

"If the world hates you, remember that the world hated ME before you.  This would not be so if you belonged to the world, because the world loves its own.  But you are not of the world since I have chosen you from the world; because of this the world hates you.

Remember what I told you: the servant is not greater than his master; if they persecuted ME, they would persecute you, too.  If they kept MY word, they keep yours as well.  All this they will do to you for the sake of MY name because they do not know the ONE who sent ME." - John 15:18-21  

(In spite of JESUS' having returned to HIS FATHER to initiate a more effective and universal presence among humankind, Satan continues to act with the power he has usurped.  The hatred of those who belong to Satan is directed against the believers and the Church.  Such helpers of Satan are called in John's Gospel: the world.

Believers are destined to be hated by the world.  It often happens that when a person begins to live in a more Christian and responsible way, she meets with opposition and hatred from her own family.  No one knows what has aroused the hatred, but the devil does, who moves everything to discourage us.

Even in the Church we find those who are of the world and believe that they are serving GOD when they persecute the true disciples of CHRIST.  Some who identify themselves with what they consider "the interests of the Church" can even persecute, and at times with malice, those who are Gospel-minded.  In reality they know neither JESUS nor HIS FATHER.

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The Resurrection Of JESUS Is A Fact

"Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, of the Good News that I preached to you and which you received and on which you stand firm.  By that Gospel you are saved, provided that you hold to it as I preached it.  Otherwise, you will have believed in vain.

In the first place, I have passed on to you what I myself received: that CHRIST died for our sins, as Scripture says; that HE was buried; that HE was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures; that HE appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.  Afterwards HE appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters together; most of them are still alive, although some have already gone to rest.  Then HE appeared to James and after that to all the apostles.  And last of all, HE appeared to the most despicable of them, this is to me." - 1 Corinthians 15:1-8  

(Have we heard the response to a last question of the Corinthians?  Many Greeks thought that at death the immortal soul leaves the body and remains alone.  Was it admitted to the paradise of souls?  Did it come to the great reservoir of souls already gone or who were to return, forgetting all the past lived on earth?  Others held [as do a good number of Christians today], that all ends with death: see 1 Thessalonians 5:13.  Paul will therefore remind the Corinthians that faith in the resurrection is at the heart of the Christian message.

I remind you of the gospel.  Here certainly we may speak of Good News, for death as something unknown is and always has been the great burden of human life [Sirach 40:1].

I have passed onto you.  Paul will not recall a tale, or a "myth," these stories full of wisdom that abounded with the Greeks.  They bared an order in the world, a meaning of life, but were only stories.  Today certain people speak of the resurrection in the same way.  They say: "It matters little what took place, the gospels are not directly interested in what happened to JESUS, for them it was important that strange events would give courage to the disciples and the hope of another life."  Paul says precisely the contrary: the resurrection of JESUS is a fact.)

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As The FATHER Has Loved ME, So I Have Loved You.

"As the FATHER has loved ME, so I have loved you.  Remain in MY love!  You will remain in MY love if you keep MY commandments, just as I have kept MY FATHER's commandments and remain in HIS love.

I have told you all this, that MY own joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete." - John 15:9-11 

(After making it clear that we depend totally on HIM, JESUS repeats HIS commandment of love.  There is a necessary order in building the Christian life.

If from the start we say: We should love our neighbor because this is the only commandment, we will achieve nothing; because each one understands love in his own way, while not having as yet interiorized the thinking of CHRIST.  Moreover, we need to receive from the source of all love the ability to love selflessly.  CHRIST asks us to first share HIS thinking: that is what the expression, keep MY commandments means.  Thus, we become HIS friends, knowing HIM as a person who loves us and acts in us.  Later we will produce the authentic fruit of love, whose source is CHRIST.)

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