To love all those He loves ‘in deed and truth’
Reflections on the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (May 2, 2021): ACTS 9:26-31; PS 22:26-27,28,30,31-32; 1 JN 3:18-24; JN 15:1-8
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Opening our minds and spirits to the love of God means that we need to love all those He loves. We cannot exclude anyone. And we have to reveal our love through our attitudes as well as our actions.
The second reading for this Sunday’s Mass comes from St. John’s first letter and calls us to understand that genuine faith in Christ demands that our behavior reflect that belief. “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.… God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God and receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him” (1 John 3:18, 20-22). If we entrust ourselves to our Lord and sincerely try to do what He asks of us, we need never be afraid. God knows us better than we will ever know ourselves. If we look to Him for guidance and strength to answer our Father’s call, and if we turn to Him on those occasions when we fail to do what He asks, He will always, always be there for us.
We have received the precious gift of faith in Christ. Our response to Him and the eternal sacrifice He made of His own life must be the way we live His love. It was loving obedience to His Father and loving mercy for us that lead Him to the cross and that transformed His dark tomb into a magnificent treasure house of light and hope. Opening our minds and spirits to the love of God means that we need to love all those He loves. We cannot exclude anyone. And we have to reveal our love through our attitudes as well as our actions. In the way we speak to and about one another; in the respect and encouragement we offer all we meet; in the practical help we give to those in need through our time and talent, as well as our treasure when we are able – in all these ways we show our love for God by loving His children, our true brothers and sisters.
Suggested missionary action: Let us spend time reflecting on God’s love for us and how we love Him in return. Then, let us consider whether or not we actually love our neighbors as ourselves. We need to examine our daily encounters with others to see if our words and actions reflect such love.
