STRENGTHENING EXERCISES

 Fifth Sunday of Easter

Today’s gospel passage is from a discourse of Jesus at the Last Supper and includes the familiar command, “Love one another as I have loved you (Jn 14: )”

The first reading from the Acts of the apostles, offers an account of how Paul and Barnabas put that command into action. The two are on a journey to revisit the churches that they had founded on a previous visit. Their purpose was simple: “They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith” (Acts 14:22).

This verse contains a word that merits our reflection.  “Strengthen” is from a Greek root,steros, that means “solid, firm, strong,” Let me introduce you to how Luke uses the word in Acts,

Literal Meaning 

Luke uses it twice in its literal sense when Peter heals the crippled man. We are told that the cripple’s feet and ankles grew strong” (3:7). And a few versus later Peter explains to the crowd that “the power of Christ’s name made him strong“(3:16).

Figurative Use

Luke uses the word figuratively a few times. This is where my interest lies. We are told that Peter “strengthened the spirits of the believers” (14:22).

In another place we are told that “the churches were strengthened in the faith” (16:5).

Later, we read “After staying in Antioch for some time “[Paul] left and traveled in orderly sequence through the Galatian country and Phrygia, bringing strength to all the disciples” (18:23).

What About You and Me?

The word takes on a certain urgency when Jesus appears to his disciples after the Resurrection and gives them a mission: “You must strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22:32). There you have it: Luke’s version of "Love one another as I have loved you.”

So, how do I fulfill this command to strengthen my brothers and sisters? We can look to Paul and Barabbas who visited their fellow Christians to encourage them, to build them up in the faith. At the risk of being irreverent, let me point out that the Greek root of our verb is “ster,” which gives us the word steroids. Imagine a Church where we devote ourselves to building up one another, bulking up one another. Can you envision a Church on steroids!

Look around you. Do you see anyone in need of an encouraging word or deed?” Do you see anyone who is weak from struggling with physical or emotional pain? Ask Paul and Barnabas what you might do for these people.

"... as I have loved you"