“But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

 

The major theme for this 5th Sunday of Easter focuses on our common vocation of Christian discipleship, our challenge of keeping Jesus’ memory alive by remaining a dynamic Christian disciple and maintaining a faithful Christian community alive, bearing witness to Jesus Christ in unity, fidelity, worship, and spirit of loving and humble service to God and to our neighbors, based on our baptism in Christ and Jesus’ teaching that He is the only “Way” to God, the ultimate “Truth” that must be accepted, and the abundant, flourishing, eternal “Life” that is meant to be shared and lived.

 

In fact, the early Christian disciples must come to terms with their faith in Jesus Christ and its consequences that impact upon their lives, both as individual persons and as members of a growing community of faith known as the Church. Men, women, and children who would otherwise have little or nothing to do with one another because of their cultural, social, political and/or economic differences, are suddenly thrust together by virtue of their common faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. As this diverse group of Christian believers grows larger and larger, the ever-changing and often conflicted complexities of the community require continual and careful attention. Therefore, all Christians are constantly reminded that our shared rootedness in Jesus Christ is the origin of our unity with one another, and the central reason for our mission and ministry to serve God and to care for one another in his name.

 

Our Christian discipleship must now be more explicit and real in this world full of confusion of different ideologies and relativism. In the Church, and through the sacraments, Christ makes himself present and incorporates us into his destiny and his mission. The Lord, with his grace, has made us the light of the world and the salt of the earth, so that we may guide others to Jesus Christ and give a higher meaning to all the values of our life. Christ has left us the mandate to bring Him to all things. So, it is our duty as the Church and Christian disciples to make those around us come closer to God.

 

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to build up God’s Church, to exercise our Christian discipleship, to imitate and follow Jesus Christ more closely, to repent our sins, to use our time, treasure, and talents to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves, participating in the works of mercy, to accomplish God’s will in our lives to glorify God.

 

How can we be dynamic Christian disciples and maintain our faithful community alive?

 

Wishing everyone a very happy and blessed Easter Season.