5th Sunday of Easter
This weekend we stop and say a prayer for all those who will doing exams in the weeks ahead. Many people is our world put great store on education and sometimes they forget the pressure that this puts on our young people especially at exam time and not all of them are able to deal with that pressure. During this exam season we remember all those who are finding the exams hard to get through and we pray for all those who are doing exams that they may be inspired to do their best and know that there are people out there family, friends teachers and lecturers who value them no matter about the exam results.
In this Sundays Gospel Jesus calls us to a new way of living when he tells us to love one another as I have loved you. At one level this is a simple call to love, at another it is a big challenge for us to be Christ like to others in this sometimes horrible world. This means that we should love as Jesus loves, in order to be the face and heart of Christ to a wounded and hurting world.
The love Jesus speaks of seems to be narrow and restrictive. He is addressing his disciples when he says, “love one another.” This love may seem insular and applicable just to an inner circle of his followers. Is he telling us that the sacrificial love he calls us to applies only to those around us in the Church? No, of course he is not saying that because we know from other parts of John’s gospel that Jesus’ mission of love includes an outreach to the world. That outreach in our modern times must include all those who are on the margins for many reasons we should not leave them behind as many people might want to do. Jesus wants us to be united with him and one another in A loving and caring community. A loving and caring community that has a great effect on others bringing those who might be doubtful with it.
What more articulate proclamation of the gospel can there be than a group of diverse people drawn together, not by similarities in education, economic status, neighborhood, citizenship, race, etc., but by the love that God has for them and their bringing that love for one another to other people? Love always demands the best from us and brings out the best in us. Being loved gives us surprising energy and courage. Love makes us fruitful, productive, strong and constant in doing good. Love is the flame that warms our soul, energizes our spirit and supplies passion to our lives. It’s our connection to God and one another.’ We are called to show the love of God to those around us and this is not easy to do but we should try and not be afraid to do that as we go forward in the love and joy of the risen Lord.
Fullerton T 