Agape, 5th Sunday in Easter

The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the Spirit driven missionary Church.

How Paul and Barnabas, proclaimed the Good News, made a great number of disciples. By the strength the Holy Spirit they exhorted the new converts to persevere for the kingdom. Together the church fasted, prayed and appointed elders for each new community. The word of a God was spreading as the Holy Spirit touched; Lystra, Iconium, Antioch, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga and Attalia.
But, we heard last Sunday that all was not good. There was jealousy within and persecution without the new communities of believers. Even Paul and Barnabas were not always welcomed. But, still where trials and tribulations abound the Grace of God abounds more and Holy Spirit (the wind of change) was tirelessly at work in the world. And the disciples were filled with joy.
When I think of the Holy Spirit spreading the church I always think of Isaiah describing God what God will do.
“I will lead the blind on their journey. By paths unknown I will guide them. I will turn darkness into light before them and make crooked ways straight.”
 This is what the Spirit is doing; leveling, guiding, and straightening, filling the world with a new vision, filling the world with light. By work of the Spirit and the missionary church by the 4thC the Church stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the western edge of China.
In the second reading John describes this Spirit driven earthly church as proof that the former heaven and the former earth had passed away. The world and its truths was no longer the unchallenged master. The world’s reality was no longer the only reality. The work of the Holy Spirit and the life of the Church were signs of this new heaven and new earth.
In the Spirit and in the Church there was now a new way of seeing the world and a new way of being in the world.
In the world the work of the Holy Spirit could be wittiness wherever there is meaning, justice and the good. And the work of the Spirit within each believer could be felt in a new self-transcendence and a new ability to love beyond ourselves. This new reality John calls the new Jerusalem. This is God’s new house.
And God’s new home is without walls. The new city of God cannot be contained within borders. And she is beautiful. John describes the Spirit driven church, as adorned and cherished as a bride. She opens her arms and heart to embrace and be embraced by all people in heaven and on earth. God, through Jesus and with the Spirit, now dwells with the human race and it is the human race who is loved and so can love.
In the fullness of God dwelling with us (when his will is done on earth as it is in heaven) every tear will be wiped from the eyes of the sorrowful. In God’s house there will be no more death (for Christ has been victorious over death) and so no more mourning.  There will be no more wailing of injustice or uncomforted pain. In God’s house (the new heaven and earth) Love not wealth or power will be the measure of our lives.
Because guided by the Spirit and loving as God loves, what the world says is worthy and true has lost its stranglehold and its shimmering lies are looking very tarnished. The old order is passing away. And the One who seats enthroned says “Behold, I have made all things new”
Emmanuel (God with us) has made all things new. In Jesus there is a new way, a new truth, and a new life. And this newness is Agape. Jesus’ new commandment to the world is Agape “love one another, as I have loved you”
Loving as Jesus loves is not falling in love or waking up one morning loving. There is work to be done. We must choose to love like Jesus. We must do love. Agape is the selfless love beyond ourselves, it is the extraordinary love of another.  Agape does not come cheap nor is it easy because it has nothing to do with self-satisfaction, one’s own wellbeing or personal benefit.
St Paul shows us what Agape looks like. I have added a word or two for emphasis.
Love is not patient.  Love is “being” patient, love is not kind. It is being kind. Love is not being envious or boastful or prideful, or hurtful. Love is not “being” selfish or resentful. Love always “chooses” to rejoice in truth and so for the sake of truth and in the spirit of truth love surrenders itself to bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.  Agape never fails because it asks nothing for itself nor expects anything in return.
Agape is doing this kind of radical unreasonable love. When we feel put upon. When someone makes a mistake or forgets to do something or moves too slow or when we experience some disappointment or moment of anger we can dwell there let it fester or lash back hurtfully or we can choose and do Agape. We can choose kindness and respect. We can choose to be patient and understanding. We can choose (at least in that moment) to live beyond ourselves. To love somebody other than ourselves.
Agape is what right relationship with God, and with each other and with all of creation looks like. In the Spirit, supported by the community of the faithful and strengthen by the Grace of God we are capable of living beyond our own self flourishing and self-interest. When we surrender something of ourselves for the good of another become less for the good of another wither; spouse, family, neighbor or stranger we become more human and fully alive.
And this new reality, this new life of Agape defining who we are is the new heaven and the new earth. Jesus makes very clear that we are to love Agape. He tells us “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for another”.