May 26, 2019: 6th Sunday Easter C
May 26, 2019: 6th Sunday Easter C
Did you know that Donaldsonville is the home of one of the oldest synagogue buildings still standing in the United States? The wooden building, now in use as an Ace Hardware store, was built in 1872 by Congregation Bikur Cholim. During the 19th century, many Jewish persons in and around Germany including French speaking Jews from the borders of Switzerland, Germany, and France settled on the Mississippi River, establishing themselves as merchants and storekeepers. During that time, a Jewish person would have greeted a fellow Jew with the word, “Shalom,” meaning peace and the other person would have responded, “Aleichem Shalom,” meaning ‘upon you peace.’ The Jewish word ‘Shalom’ does not simply mean absence of war, friction, quarrel, and strife. “Shalom” is taken from the root word ‘shalam,’ which speaks of completeness, fullness, or wholeness that encourages you to give back or generously repay in someway. So when you greet someone or say goodbye with “Shalom,” you are literally saying, “may you be full of well-being” or, “may health and prosperity be upon you.”
On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure from them. As his Passion and death loomed, Jesus encouraged his disciples to prove their love for him by their loyalty and obedience to his word. They would not be left alone; he promised the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, as their help and guide. Jesus told the disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” (‘Shalom Hashem’ I leave with you, my ‘Shalom’ I give to you) Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid...The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything.” Soon after the arrest and death of Jesus, the small, fledgling Church would shudder under fear of the unknown future.
Similarly today’s disciples also face challenges that makes them anxious and worried. As Christians we accept that we face trials, suffering and death. Just this month, several Catholics and a priest were martyred in Africa; this follows a string of terrorism on Catholics and Christians the past few months, including arbitrary demolishing of Catholic churches by the communist government in China. We pray that we never face that kind of challenge. However, we each face difficulties such as illnesses, aging parents, addiction, loss of job or broken relationships. We must always remember the Lord’s promise that the Holy Spirit is with us to grant us shalom--wholeness, completeness, and fullness in our soul--in the midst of difficulties. St. Teresa of Avila, a saint who was no stranger to grave illness and personal trials, composed a simple encouragement for her religious sisters:
Let nothing disturb you / Let nothing frighten you / All things are passing away: God never changes / Patience obtains all things / Whoever has God lacks nothing / God alone suffices.
Within us is the Holy Spirit who lends us God’s strength and hope to radiate God’s peace in our own hearts, our family, and community. Patience, St. Teresa said, obtains all things. Courage and fortitude during times of disturbance and fear lead to the ultimate reality that God is our reality who never changes or leaves us.
I imagine that the small Jewish community of Donaldsonville faced much change and hardship over the years-- economic and population boom and bust, and a shrinking congregation. In 1940, the small Jewish congregation of Bikur Cholim finally disbanded and closed its door to the synagogue. While the small Jewish cemetery on the corner of St. Patrick Street and Marchand Drive is a visible reminder of their past presence in our community, the faith of their descendents in our community continues to live on because God whom they worshipped continues His presence among us. The Holy Spirit whom Heavenly Father sent to the hearts of the faithful in Donaldsonville continues to work through each generation of disciples of Christ. Each of us today is called to be instruments of God’s shalom; we are to radiate His joy, blessing, and hope in both in the good and bad times of our lives. Who can separate us from the love and peace of Christ, except our own fear and distrust in Our Lord?
