![]() Peter now returns to the “reason for our hope.” That “reason” is Christ Jesus. ![]() The suffering will last only for a time the good for eternity. This is the path to take despite the suffering. He says: “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of god, than for doing evil.” In other words, sometimes choosing good over evil will bring on suffering. Regardless, Jesus is present to us in His Spirit, to help form our conscience and to lead us forward.Īt the end of this final exhortation Peter speaks of the fortitude it brings so that one can remain faithful in the battles that inevitably occur with evil. Sometimes they may not be so obvious and may require a lot of deliberation. Sometimes those decisions are obvious but challenging. Our conscience helps us make decisions, choosing good and avoiding evil. Striving for a clear conscience again entails keeping Christ at the center of our lives. So our engagement of the person asking the question will require not only respect but also “reverence.”įourth, the final exhortation is to keep a clear conscience. Jesus offered Himself because He loves them, the same way that he loves us. Second reverence for the person to whom we speak for they are made in the image and likeness of God. First reverence of that which we speak for it is holy, and of God. The call for reverence is perhaps two fold. Jesus was gentile so when speaking of our “hope” we do so with gentleness. He did so as a Good Shepherd who knows his sheep by name and leads them with compassion and love. Third, Peter says to offer the explanation with “gentleness and reverence.” Jesus went about preaching and teaching, healing and forgiving, proclaiming and inviting. This is important for they also help to keep our focus on Christ Jesus. Before he speaks of that “reason,” he first gives some advice on how to do so. Peter is saying – give them the reason, it is meant to be shared. Living in a world where there are so many forces that try to rob one of hope (war, broken relationships, racism, hate, poverty, economic fragility, drugs, abuse, violence, killing of the innocent, etc.) that when people encounter a person of hope, they want to know the reason for that hope. Living a life of hope will naturally draw questions. Second, he writes: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” Here the author exhorts us to proclaim. The emphasis that is given here is that the profession of Christ as Lord takes place, first, “in your hearts.” It is an internal acknowledgement which brings with it commitment, the commitment to Him who loves. We acclaim Him Lord when we value Him above all else. We acclaim Him as Lord when we keep His commandments. We also acclaim Him as Lord when we make decisions based on Him who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” ![]() ![]() We acknowledge Him as Lord “in our hearts,” when we pray – in all the many forms prayer takes. The First Letter of Peter gives us some exhortations which help to keep Christ as the center.įirst, he says: “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.” This is an intentional thought. Keeping Christ as the center of our lives fills us with awareness – that we are loved, that we are never alone. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” He says: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. This aspect is the keeping of His commandments, chief of which is the command to love. Jesus speaks of one aspect of this love in today’s gospel passage which is closely associated with His presence through the Spirit. He does so because He and the Father love us. We celebrate his return to the Father at the Ascension next Thursday and ten days later we celebrate Pentecost. The Spirit will dwell in and among the disciples, the Church, and so Jesus remains with them, with us. He is preparing the disciples for his return to the Father but also for the coming of the Holy Spirit whom He refers to, in this passage, as the Paraclete (translated in the Lectionary as “Advocate”). He says: “I will not leave you orphans I will come to you.” He says this in the context of preparation. (Readings of the Holy Mass – Sixth Sunday of Easter) ![]()
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