Homily for 6 Easter C

Let us prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of Christianity.

Our reading from Acts tells the story of the Conversion of Lydia and her household. In the ancient Greek culture, women were basically treated as property. In Roman culture, they had a bit more status but the improvement was not dramatic. I point this out because this story of the first Christians accepting Lydia as a head of household demonstrates their dramatic difference from the culture around them. This story is one more tiny glimpse into strongly our predecessors held the equality symbolized in images like the “Mystical Body of Christ.”

This story is set in Paul’s second great missionary journey. Starting from Caesarea Philippi, he has traveled north to Antioch, then generally northwest through Asia Minor. He, Silas and Timothy have now arrived at “Troas,” a seaport on the Aegean Sea. Now he has a dream, which he understands to contain instructions from God. “Macedonia” was the Roman province in northern Greece.

In our reading from Revelations, John continues describing the heavenly city established as God’s thrown in the recreated world. He dramatizes God’s glory by describing it as all the sunlight the city needs. In his dream John is carried by an angel into the desert to see a decaying “Babylon,” i.e. Rome. His next vision is the glorified Church, i.e., the new “holy city of Jerusalem.” The height of the city “wall” (21:17) is minuscule compared to what would be expected. This City fears no enemies.

Our gospel reading is from John’s account of the Last Supper. Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit after he arrives in heaven. He also warns that the Holy Spirit “will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said.” The implication is that more teachings (or revelations) are to come. There is an old monastic saying that is draw from this admonition: “Be attentive to the Holy Spirit!”

We are now in that part of the Easter Season where we look toward Christ’s Ascension and the birth of the Christian Church on Pentecost. Today we remembered the promise of the Holy Spirit and Jesus admonition that we actually listen to it…. We are further reminded of the promised perfected world to come in the reunion of Heaven and Earth.

Christianity has both a spiritual and practical side. We have talked much lately about that practical side: loving one’s neighbor, sharing out faith with others, even construction plans for our new building. We must not neglect the spiritual. It is important that we pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is important because the act of making such prayers opens our hearts and minds for the Spirit’s guidance. It also helps us be ready to accept its gift of passionate spiritual love. That fiery part of the Pentecost story. Let us prayerfully make ourselves ready to celebrate the birth of the Church!