“Your reign is a reign for all ages, your dominion for all generations...” (Psalm 145:13)
Reflections on the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (May 15, 2022): ACTS 14:21-27; PS 145:8-9,10-11,12-13; REV 21:1-5; JN 13:31-33, 34-35
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Jesus does not want us to love others with our own love, but with His divine love. At the Last Supper, He tells His Apostles that He expects them to love one another as He loves them...
On this Fifth Sunday of Lent, we are asked to turn away from the past, away from old ways to thinking and doing and living. Instead, we are called to embrace what is new and even unexpected. The reading from Acts reveals Paul and Barnabas on their mission of proclaiming the Good News of salvation to new disciples; letting them know that God’s compassion was meant for them and all people. The door of faith and the gates of heaven had been opened by Christ. The kingdom of God is ours if we are willing to accept the cross of our Redeemer. In the Book of Revelation, St. John shares a vision of a new heaven and a new earth. The old law and the old way of life have been transformed. “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be His people and God Himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away. … Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:3-5). All things new. It is not only difficult to conceive just what this means, but it is also somewhat frightening. After all, the past may hold pain and problems, but there is still a sense of familiarity. Now, we must turn our backs on that and to follow Christ -- loving Him and His beloved children, all His beloved people even when it’s hard.
Jesus does not want us to love others with our own love, but with His divine love. At the Last Supper, He tells His Apostles that He expects them to love one another as He loves them -- as He loves each of us. St. Teresa of Calcutta asked, “If you don’t have love for one another, then how can you love Christ? How can they see Jesus in you? … The whole Gospel is very, very simple. Do you love Me? Obey My commandments. … Intense love does not measure; it just gives. … Loving must be as normal to us as living and breathing, day after day, until our death.” To love like Christ is much more than human love. It is divine. And it took our Lord to Calvary. And wherever it takes us, we must be willing to go, for love of Him who gave Himself for us; so that we can share glory everlasting with Him.
