The Sixth Sunday of Easter (Cycle A)

Psalm 66:1-7;16-20, Acts 8:5-8;14-17, 1 Peter 3:15-18, John 14:15-21

The tie in between today’s readings: A Sacramental Life

Let’s take a different angle on Psalm 66 today. Imagine that God is your favorite movie star. You belong to His fan club, read every Tweet, and can even mouth the dialogue of your favorite scenes. Verses 1-4 will sound a lot like your conversations about Him. He is nothing short of awesome! Now, let’s say that you score two tickets to the Hollywood premier of His next movie (verses 5-7). You call tour friend, “OMG! This guy is the greatest! I’ve seen the trailers! This movie is awesome! It has to win an Oscar! We can’t miss it!” Your friend agrees. We finish our scenario with verses 16-20. The movie is epic; it blows everyone away. Someone who knows the actor notices your enthusiasm and is so impressed that they invite you both backstage to meet Him. Your breathless encounter is so exciting you can’t believe it. All the way home you and your friend cannot and probably never will stop talking about this once in a lifetime adventure. In hindsight, you wince over some of the dumb things that you think you said. It doesn’t matter. You know that He understands and besides, He gave you…His autograph!  How great is that? Your mind’s eye has already picked out a place for it at home, where it will always remain for you to tell everyone you know about your best day ever!

The thing to notice is that this a three-part story.  An objective part that includes everything that you have read, heard, and observed about the movie star. Then there is the subjective aspect, which is your own personal encounter with Him. Finally, there is the autograph, a physical token which connects your personal experience to the world. Now, we may never make it to a Hollywood premier, but the connection of ourselves to physical symbols happens every day. A store sends you a gift card to express their sincere regret for a bad shopping experience. You give your son the keys to the new car and prove that you trust him. Your boyfriend loves you, but when he puts that diamond on your finger…now you’re talking! Our reading in Acts 8:5-8; 14-17 moves these everyday examples to the sacramental level.

Any good Jew looked upon the Samaritans as despised half breeds, but there goes Phillip proclaiming the gospel to them. He sees them as the next step on the road that takes the message of Jesus Christ to the utter most parts of the world. Phillip is remarkably successful in making converts as he preaches salvation, heals the sick, and casts out demons. He baptizes them as the Lord instructed, but something is missing…the Holy Spirit. Word gets back to headquarters in Jerusalem about the Samaritan revival. Peter and John are dispatched. They pray for these new believers, lay hands on them, and they receive the Holy Spirit. This sacrament of Confirmation is the physical sign that the Church (and God) embraces these hated Samaritans. They are His children too. Now, on to the Gentiles!

Our next readings teach us that our sacramental life, as personal as it is, is meant to be lived out in the world. Jesus, who is the Truth, in John 14:15-21, promises the disciples a unique personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will abide in them, they will have a “knowing” of His presence, and, in turn, an intimate connection with the God of the universe. The physical manifestation of this reality is the believer’s love for neighbor and obedience to the Lord. Our reading in 1 Peter 3:15-18 sums it up this way: know objectively why you believe what you believe, cherish Him whom you believe in, and take that sacramental autograph of the Holy Spirit written in your heart and show the world that Christ is alive in your life. After this, maybe, a friend or two will want to come along with you to see Jesus’ next appearance at Sunday Mass. If so, don’t forget to tell them that the Lord always gives out autographs. They may want one.