5th Sunday of Easter (Cycle C, Year II)
Community Word: The Risen Christ calls us to believe in Him and receive His mercy and compassion.
Theme: We believe in the Risen Christ when we live a life that follows His commandment to love one another.
Promise: “…the old order has passed away….I make all things new.” (Rv 21:4b,5b)
Reflection:
The distinguishing character of Christ’s disciples is their love for one another – “By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples,”(Jn 13:35). Jesus’s message for the world can be summed up in one word – Love! Christians are to be known by their love, not hatred. Love must be at the core, the motivation and source of all our actions. It is revealed in and is rooted in the love that is God. As Jesus loves us, so too, by His grace, should we love one another.
Christ’s standard of love is explained in the First Reading – “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” (Acts 14: 22b). Consequently, to love as Jesus loves involves total commitment that may involve, or demand, selfless sacrifice of one’s life, just as Jesus gave His life for us. Jesus was aware of His disciples’ shortcomings and weaknesses but He was also aware of God’s presence in their hearts. When He told his disciples to“love one another,”He looked beyond their faults and weaknesses to search for the God who lives in their hearts.
Love that is focused on others rather than on self, respects the rights of others and helps build community and society. Thus, the heart of Christianity is love, and it is demonstrated in a community that nurtures faith, strengthens hope and promotes love of one another as commanded by the Lord.
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another,” (Jn 13:34). We are called to care for others in response to Christ’s unconditional love for us. We are especially called to help those who struggle with issues of discrimination, poverty and injustice. When we enjoy special privileges that are denied to others, we should recognize these as gifts and not take them for granted. God places us in positions where we can be advocates for the rights of the underprivileged, the downtrodden and the voiceless. Let us support them, not only with prayers for their well-being, but with acts of kindness. What is really new about Jesus’ commandment is not that we are to love one another, but that we are to do it in imitation of the kind of love that Christ has shown us, in its width, length, height and depth (Eph 3:18). The love of Jesus is the new order by which we can be assured of the promise this week in Revelation 21:4, 5: “…the old order has passed away… I make all things new.”
Love conquers all. Wrongdoing, disagreement, division, hatred and war can be overcome with love. We can rise above the challenges that face us each day – our worries, doubts, fears, struggles, confusion, disappointments, insecurity and insufficiency. What we need to do is embrace the victory of the Risen Christ and accept His compassion and mercy. Just as God glorified Jesus because He offered His life for us, so too will God glorify us if we have “love for one another,” (Jn 13:35).
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you taught us how to love. We have a sincere desire to imitate You. but we do not have the strength to love as You do. Renew our hearts with Your love so that we may remain faithful and strong in following your commandment to love our brothers and sisters as You love us. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. How can I effectively love others and be a source of blessing to them?
2. What have I done to show that God truly lives in me in terms of sharing my time, talent and treasure with others, especially those who are in need?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
April 24, 2016 (Sun) Acts 14:21-27/Ps 145:8-9,10-11,12-13/Rv 21:1-5/Jn 13:31-33,34-35
April 25, 2016 (Mon) 1 Pt 5:5-14/Ps 89:2-3m6-7,16-17/Mk 16:15-20
April 26, 2016 (Tue) Acts 14:19-28/Ps 145:10-11,12-13,21/Jn 14:27-31
April 27, 2016 (Wed) Acts15:1-6/Ps 122:1-2,3-4,4-5/Jn 15:1-8
April 28, 2016 (Thu) Acts 15:7-21?ps 96:1-2,2-3,10/Jn 15:9-11
April 29, 2016 (Fri) Acts15:22-31/Ps 57:8-9,10,12/Jn 15:12-17
April 30, 2016 (Sat) Acts 16:1-10/Ps 100:1-2,3,5/Jn 15:18-21
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
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