Second Sunday of Easter [A]
Divine Mercy Sunday
April 15, 2023
John 20:19-31

On April 30, 2000, Pope St. John Paul II has declared the Second Sunday of Easter as the Divine Mercy Sunday. Then, the question is “Why did St. John Paul II choose second Sunday of Easter as the Divine Mercy Sunday?” Partially, the answer is related to the diary of St. Faustina, who recorded Jesus’ instruction to make the second Sunday of Easter as the divine Mercy Sunday. Through St. Faustina, Jesus did not only ask to create the divine Mercy Sunday, but also invite the faithful to make confessions and receive the communion in this day. However, what makes the second Sunday of Easter is worth to be called the Divine Mercy Sunday is the Gospel of the day. Let’s explore further.

John the evangelist narrated the two appearances of the risen Christ to His disciples, at the Sunday of resurrection and the following Sunday. Obviously, the connecting protagonist is St. Thomas, apostle. However, aside from the story of Thomas, there is a particular detail that we often miss. Jesus rose from the dead to give this particular grace of the Holy Spirit to His Church, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained (John 20:21-23).”

Jesus came not only to show His resurrection and offered peace to His fearful disciples. He sent His disciples as the Father sent Jesus to the world. As He commissioned His disciples, Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit. This Jesus’ act is particularly re-enactment of what God did when God made the first humans alive (see Gen 2:7). Thus, He came to recreate His disciples and to send them for a mission. What’s mission?

It is the mission to forgive sins, or the mission of mercy. Jesus particularly recreated His disciples as to enable them to receive the divine power, that is to forgive sins. We recall in the Gospel that Jesus was accused as blasphemy when He forgave sins because the Pharisees recognized that the forgiveness of sins is God’s prerogative. Yet, Jesus rose from the dead and proved His divine nature. Thus, He indeed possesses the authority to forgive sins. But, He does not stop there. He wills that His Church continue His mission of mercy, and thus, He shares this divine authority to His disciples.

This is the biblical foundation of the sacrament of reconciliation. This event also answers an objection, “why do we need to confess our sins and ask forgiveness to another sinful man?” The answer is simple: because God wills it to be so. It is true that men have no power to forgive sins, but the situation radically changes when God shares this divine authority to His representatives on earth and commissions them to bring more and more people to the divine Mercy.

In fact, the practice of confession of sins has been practiced since the primitive Church. St. James recorded in his letter that the faithful were confessing their sins before the Church and the prayer of the righteous men, that is, the elders of the Church, would bring healing and forgiveness (see James 5:14-16). Throughout the centuries, the rite of the sacrament of reconciliation has indeed evolved, but it retains its basic structure, that is, contrition, confession and satisfaction (see CCC 1448). More fundamentally, the sacrament remains the testament of God’s Mercy to us.

Rome
Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Pentecost [C]
June 5, 2022
John 14:15-16, 23-26

The Pentecost is the traditional day of the birth of the Church. If the many scholars agree that Jesus’ crucifixion and death falls on April 4, 33 AD, the date of resurrection is April 6 of the same year. From here, we can trace the date of the first Pentecost. Fifty days later is May 25, 33 AD. So we have the date! Yet, the more fundamental question is why do we consider Pentecost as Church’s birthday?

The main reason is the Holy Spirit. During the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled the disciples’ hearts and the minds with His divine presence and His gifts. The first gift is preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The gift of speaking in different languages is indeed amazing, yet before this miracle, the Holy Spirit empowered them to share the Good News.

If we try to look back, the disciples were terrified and confused. Jesus, their beloved teacher, and the expected Messiah was suddenly arrested, and swiftly condemned to death. Jesus’ followers were scattered, and the community of disciples was broken. One betrayed Jesus, another denied Him, and the rest were running away like cowards. Even, after they received the news of resurrection, they kept afraid and were even more puzzled. Jesus had to come in person to show the proof of the resurrection as well as to forgive them, to strengthen them, and to teach them the meaning of His passion and resurrection. However, despite the risen Lord’s presence, there remained an innate fear and uncertainty of their future.

When the promised Holy Spirit came, courage and wisdom entered their hearts. The Spirit empowered them to break out from the prison of fear, and to preach that Jesus Christ is Lord. We look at Simon Peter. When his personal safety was threatened, he was quick to deny His beloved master, not only twice, but thrice. Together with other disciples, Peter hid themselves from the Jewish authorities in the upper room. He even had a difficult time to understand the meaning of resurrection. However, after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, cowardly Simon turned to be a new person. Before the people, he fearlessly proclaimed that Jesus is the Savior and God. During the day of Pentecost, he preached and three thousand people who listened to him became believers!

Surely, it is not only Simon Peter, but also other disciples, and thus the Church. From the day of Pentecost, the disciples did not only stay in Jerusalem, but they went to different places in around the world. Peter went to Rome, Andrew became a missionary to Greece, Thomas reached as far as India. Without the Holy Spirit, the disciples had not dared to go and preach; without preaching, there would not be new disciples; without growth, there would not be the Church. This is the reason that the day of Pentecost is the birthday of the Church.

Yet, the Holy Spirit does not stop working at the first Pentecost. He continues giving us growth to us, the Church. Through the baptism we received the Spirit Holy that makes us children of God. During the confirmation, the Holy Spirit transforms us to be the courageous witnesses of Christ. In the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit comes and brings us the Body and Blood of Jesus. If we believe that Jesus is the Lord, it is the Holy Spirit. If we keep believing in Jesus, despite many difficulties, it is the Holy Spirit. If we are able to forgive our enemies, it is the Holy Spirit. If we are able to stay faithful to our vocations, it is the Holy Spirit.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

6^th Sunday of Easter [C]

May 22, 2022

John 14:23-29

There are at least three reasons why someone obeys. The first reason is that fear, and fear is a potent motivation. Fear commonly becomes the foundation of master-slave relationship. Slaves do things because they are afraid of their master’s punishments. They fear the pain, and yet paradoxically, they turn to be dependent to their master as they would do anything their masters order without much thinking. Sometimes, we see God as a kind divine master of slaves, and we obey God’s word and rules because we are afraid of punishments. In turn, we become rigid also to others who fail to do God’s commandments or Church’s precepts.

The second reason is profitability. Benefit or profit is another strong drive of life. Profit-oriented motivation usually is reflected in business relationship or contract. People follow their boss or the contracts as long as it is profitable. The moment it is no longer beneficial for them, they stop obeying. They either go disappointed or get angry. Sometimes, we treat God no more than just a business partner or a company boss, and we go to Him when we feel beneficial for us. We pray when we have troubles and want God to fix everything in instant. We go to the Church when we need to feel blessed. Yet, when we do not get what we what, either we are frustrated or get angry.  

The ultimate reason is love. This motive is extraordinary because unlike fear and profit, love gives us neither external punishment nor rewards. Love flows from within and fills others with goodness. Relationship based on love can be seen in friendship. Genuine friends care and do good for one another, but they do not fear each other neither seek only the personal benefits. True friends stay in times of troubles, and true friends remains despite getting nothing in return. They simply know what the right things to do, and they do it for the sake of their friends. Thus, ‘friends in need are friends indeed.’

Jesus understands this dynamism very well, and thus, He does not call His disciples ‘slaves’ but ‘friends’. “You are my friends if you do what I command you [Jn 15:14].” The true drive in obeying and faithful to Jesus is love, and not fear or profit. Why? Because our God is neither cruel master that looks for mistakes nor a boss who constantly monitors our performance. Our God is love.

 Love begets love, and love demands love. Jesus loves His disciples to the end, and His only demand is to love Him to the end. Yet, the paradox is one cannot coerce true love. Despite Jesus binds us with the commandment of love, He does not force, and because of that, there is always possibility of betrayal and denial. However, despite these ugly possibilities, Jesus continues loving us because He cannot deny Himself who is love.

We are primarily slaves nor employees of God, but we are His friends of Jesus. Thus, we ask God for the necessary grace to live our identity as good friends of Christ.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

5th Sunday of Easter [C]
May 14, 2022
John 13:31-35

Jesus is giving His disciples a new commandment: to love one another. This is not just a recommendation, advice, or suggestion. It is a commandment, and therefore, it is a must to do. What is more interesting is that Jesus consciously connects His New Commandments with the old ones: the Ten Commandments. What are the connections and why does Jesus make this new commandment?

If we go back to the historical context of the giving of the Ten Commandments, the Israelites were just miraculously freed from Egypt, and they camped at Mount Sinai. There, God came and offered His covenant: The Lord will be their God, and Israel will be their people. Then, God gave the Ten Commandments and other laws as the basic constitutions of what it is to be the people of God. By obeying and living these Commandments, they were going to be the holy nation. They were a nation different from other nations, but a nation separated for God.

Fast forward to Jesus’ Last Supper, Jesus gives the New Commandment. Connecting with the Old Testament, Jesus’ commandment is not just a must to do, it is also our constitutive identity as Jesus’ disciples. This is the commandment that makes us different from the rest. No wonder Jesus explains to His disciples, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have a love for one another [John 13:35].” This is the commandment that makes us holy, set apart from the others and for Jesus.

However, to love is tough. To love someone means we become vulnerable, and we are open to the possibility of getting hurt. We are betrayed by people we love and trust, our friends, our spouse, our brothers, and our children. I am a priest for barely three years, but living in Surabaya, one of the major cities in Indonesia, I have to listen to a good number of people with broken relationships in marriages and families. I am saddened by the terrible situations that they have to endure, and I cannot help much. Sometimes, people must bear the painful consequence of broken relationships throughout their lives. Wounded by betrayal, we tend to build walls around our hearts, and our capacity to love is gradually dwindling.

Why does Jesus insist on love, to the point of making it the new commandment? The answer is that love is who Jesus is. ‘Love one another as I have loved you!’ Jesus loved His disciples, but after the Last Supper, a disciple betrayed Him, another denied Him, and many were abandoning Him. The people He loved dearly, crucified Him. Yet, Jesus was never a helpless victim. He entered His suffering willingly, and He transformed His death into an act of total self-giving. Jesus knew that His disciples would do terrible things, but He chose to celebrate an intimate Last Supper with them. He forgave people who crucified Him. He gave His dying love to His mother and the beloved disciple. Even death does not stop Him from loving. He has to rise again and bring forgiveness and peace to His disciples. He then sends His Holy Spirit as a sign of His abiding love.

To love fully and sacrificially is our identity as Jesus’ disciples. Though loving is often tough and sometimes, heart-breaking, love is who we are as God’s image. There is no way to heaven except the way of love.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

3rd Sunday of Easter [C]
John 21:1-19
May 1, 2022

Simon Peter is a total mess. He is impulsive and even perhaps explosive. One time, he tried to remind his Master and thought he was better than Jesus, but immediately, Jesus scolded him and even told him, “get behind me Satan.” At the Gethsemane, Jesus told His disciples that they would desert Him, Simon once again was full of confidence, and said, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” Jesus famously prophesied that Peter would eventually deny Him. Simon immediately countered, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you” [Mat 26:31-35]

Unfortunately, Peter was nothing but empty words and promises. When Jesus was arrested and detained in the high priest’s house, Peter was near the charcoal fire and tried to warm himself on a chilling night. While Jesus was thrown into the dungeon, Simon only care about himself and conveniently refused to acknowledge his identity as Jesus’ disciple. When the rooster crowed, Simon remembered what Jesus has said, and he went away and wept bitterly. Peter’s pride was shattered into pieces, and he must have realized that he was nothing but a big failure.

Indeed, Peter could have ended as a total mess, yet Jesus did not give up on him. In Galilee, Peter once again saw his Risen Master, and Jesus had prepared a charcoal fire and fish and bread. Seeing this charcoal, Peter was brought back to that moment he denied the Lord. Peter had chosen his warm and comfort zone in exchange for the Lord. Then, the Lord asked Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” John the evangelist informs us that Jesus is using the word ‘agape’, a higher and sacrificial love. This question shook Simon’s heart. Peter remembered how he used to say ‘I will sacrifice my life for Jesus’, but it was nothing but empty words. Now, Jesus demanded sacrificial love from Peter. Humbled by his failure, the best answer Simon could give is, ‘You know, I love you, Lord.” Here, Peter used the word ‘filia,’ a friendship friend.

Once again, Jesus demanded a total and radical love. For the second time, Peter could only offer ‘filia’. Simon did not want to repeat the same prideful mistake and knew at that moment, that Simon could only love Jesus as a friend. However, in the third question, Jesus made a dramatic change. Jesus did not longer demand sacrificial love, but rather accommodate Simon’s ability. Jesus asks, ‘do you love as a friend?’ Peter could not contain himself and was sorrowful. Jesus understood Peter’s heart and capacity and forgave and accepted Simon the way he was. Yet, that’s not the end of the story. Simon’s love for Jesus must grow, and the time would come when Peter would love Jesus radically and give himself up for Jesus.

The story of Peter is our story as well. Our lives have been a mess, but Jesus does not give up on us. And, when we are afraid to love Him, Jesus accepts us still. He journeys with us and enables us to grow in love, until the time we can say, “You know Lord, I love you!”

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Second Sunday of Easter [C]
April 24, 2022
John 20:19-31

Pope John Paul II has declared the Second Easter Sunday as the Divine Mercy Sunday. On April 30, 2000, the declaration took place when John Paul II canonized Sr. Faustina Kowalski. Since then, the devotion to the Divine Mercy has grown exponentially worldwide. Nowadays, many of us do not only pray the angelus prayer, but every three in the afternoon, the hour of Jesus’ death, recite the prayer of divine mercy. More and more people make divine mercy chaplet as daily devotion aside from the rosary. Many communities gather together and organize novena to the Divine Mercy. But, do you know what mercy is? And, why does it has to be the 2nd Sunday of Easter?

The Oxford dictionary gives us an exciting definition of mercy: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. A story may illustrate this definition of mercy. During one of the Napoleonic wars, one of the young French soldiers deserted the army and fled the battlefield. Unfortunately, he got captured. Knowing that his son would be executed, the mother rushed to see Napoleon. She said to the general, “have mercy on my son!” Napoleon immediately replied, “your son’s crime is so heinous. Justice demands his death, and he does not deserve mercy.” The mother then answered, “It is not mercy if he deserves it!”.

Let’s go back to the Biblical Hebrew language. Mercy is related to the word ‘rahamim,’ which is rooted in the word ‘Rahim’ meaning ‘womb.’ Thus, ‘rahamim’ implies a mother’s feelings and attitude toward her children. We know that we have hurt our mothers too often if we try to reflect on our lives and our relationship with our mothers. Since we live in their wombs until we grow to adulthood, we give them countless headaches and heartaches. Yet, despite the terrible things we have done, our good mothers keep accepting and loving us as their children.

Then, why the second Sunday of Easter? This Sunday, the Church always selects the story of resurrection from John, the evangelist. There are some exciting details. The disciples locked themselves in the room because of fear of the Jews. Yet, more than fearing the Jewish authorities, they dreaded Jesus, who returned and took His vengeance. Yet, Jesus came not to bring punishment but forgiveness. Thus, the first thing He said was ‘Peace’! They have peace because Jesus, who has the power to inflict punishment, decides to have mercy on them.

Yet, Jesus does not stop there. He also breathed the Holy Spirit and gave them the divine authority to forgive sins. To teach the true meaning of mercy and forgiveness, Jesus has to suffer the cross, die, and get buried. Jesus teaches them that the worst things may fall upon Jesus, but this hatred, wrath, and vengeance will not have the last say.

We deserve death and hell with so many sins we have committed, but the resurrection points to us that however terrible we treat Jesus, mercy will always triumph. His forgiveness is always ready to embrace us. We need to do one thing: beg for that mercy.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno,OP

Easter Sunday [C]
John 20:1-9
April 17, 2022

Jesus has risen! Alleluia! This is the foundation of our faith and our salvation. We know for sure that what Jesus said and what He did for us are true. Death is conquered, and the darkness’ power is decisively defeated.

But, what is the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection? The answer is the empty tomb.
Yet, how do we know for sure that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead? Is an empty tomb enough evidence for His resurrection? Is there a possibility that Jesus’ body was stolen, or Jesus was still alive and was able to escape? Let’s check whether these arguments can hold water.
Firstly, His disciples came at night and stole their master’s body. Then they spread the rumor that Jesus has risen from the dead. At first, this sounds possible, but after closer examinations, we realize that Roman soldiers guarded the tomb. A bunch of fishermen was not just a match for the professional army. At the same time, the disciples were in complete disarray after their master was captured and crucified.

Secondly, the one crucified was not Jesus, which is a case of mistaken identity. This argument is not attainable. Judah played an essential role in ensuring that the one arrested was Jesus, not someone else. Jesus’ trial was done in public, and thus, it was easy to recognize whether the person was Jesus. Plus, the mother and other disciples of Jesus were also present during the crucifixion, and they recognized the one on the cross was Jesus.

Thirdly, Jesus was not dead, and He was able to find His way out of the tomb. This argument is implausible. Jesus was tortured severely and crucified. A soldier pierced His side to verify His death, which alone could deal a mortal blow. Just in case Jesus survived all these ordeals, the tomb would seal Jesus inside, and without proper ventilation and immediate treatment, Jesus would suffocate and die.

Aside from these counterarguments, had Jesus’ resurrection been a lie, it would eventually die down. Many Jewish people believed in the resurrection of the dead, but it will occur at the end of time, not during their lifetime. The Greeks and the Romans thought the idea of resurrection silly. Yet, Jesus’ disciples would gladly die for this truth. Even after horrific forms of torture, they would not give up their belief in the resurrection because it is simply the truth.

Another interesting detail is that the first witnesses of the empty tomb are women. In ancient Jewish society, women’s testimony was not honored. The evangelists could have altered the women’s witnesses with more credible male counterparts. Yet, they did not do that because they could not change the truth that the women were indeed the witnesses of the empty tomb.

There is no other fitting explanation than the resurrection. Jesus has risen, and our faith is not in vain. We have been redeemed, and we know that is true. We rejoice and celebrate for this Jesus’ victory over death.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP