WEEKLY THOUGHTS 6th SUNDAY OF EASTER MAY 5, 2024
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the celebration of the 6th Sunday of Easter and the first Sunday in the month of May- dedicated to praying the Rosary. Let us endeavor to pray the Rosary daily for our spiritual nourishment and Mary’s intervention to end evil in the world.
In the Gospel Reading of last Sunday; (Jn. 15: 1-8) “I am the vine you are the branches and my Father is the grower…” Jesus was teaching his disciples the importance of his disciples to understand the closeness of his relationship with Him and the necessity and duty to maintain it. This means that our life with Jesus is dependent, as close as the vine to its branches. “Without me you can do nothing.”
Jesus suggested the need to be pruned in order to bear fruit. This implies to be bold enough to cut out of our lives whatever is contrary to the Spirit of Jesus and our ability to get control of our sinful inclinations.
The Readings of this Sunday declare the profound truth that those who believe in Christ and obey his commandment of love remain- abide in God and God in him/her.
The Second Reading taken 1 Jn. 4:7-10 defines God as love. Love is the nature of God. Everything about God proceeds from love- like sending His Son for the expiation of our sins. God sets for us an example to follow. Divine love gives us the command as well as the duty to love one another- “Love one another.”
The Gospel Reading Jn. 15: 9-17 comes after Jesus’ teaching to his disciples the parable of the vine and the branches- “by bearing fruits, the disciples will both glorify God the Father and prove their discipleship- the goal of the twelve.
Because of their connection to Jesus the vine, their fruits must be like the love of Jesus and his Father. Love is to be a disciples’ way of life. The highest form of love is expressed when someone is prepared to die for the sake of a friend. Our friendship with Jesus is expected to bear the qualities of a friend; trust, mutuality, faithfulness, forgiveness, joy and sacrifice. Jesus has offered us these qualities in our friendship with him. Let us endeavor to cultivate an abiding and loving friendship with Jesus.
Let us be persons for others – sacrificing our time and talent and lives for others as parents and people in the health care ministry and profession. Let love be our way of life as Paul exhorts us;
“Love is patient, love is kind…, love rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never fails.” (1Cor 13:4-8)
Have a great week and month of May.
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