Cycle B - Year I:

9 May 2021: Sixth Sunday of Easter

(Liturgical Color: White)

Readings:

First Reading: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48

Second Reading: 1 John 4:7-10

Gospel: Please Read John 15:9-17

"A new commandment: love one another!"

In this journey of life we have two choices to make: to become a leader or just be a follower. The presence of both, the leader and followers, makes our journey enjoyable, focused and meaningful.

Two Sundays ago our Lord Jesus Christ gave us a clear measure of a good leader in His own description of Himself as the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd, He says, "lays down his life for the sheep." (Jn 10:11) Thus, good leaders are those who inspire us by their examples of caring, self-giving and compassionate leadership.

This Sunday's Gospel speaks about what to be expected of the followers as well. On the sixth Sunday of Easter we hear Jesus speaks about how to measure those who want to follow Him as the Good Shepherd.

Jesus gives His disciples a new commandment, a new way of living in order to be worthy of following Him as their leader. So Jesus says to them: This is my commandment: love one another as I love you!" (Jn 15:12)

What does this new commandment mean to us? Let us look up to our Lord Jesus again for wisdom and advice.

True love is really sacrificial. That means love gives all to the beloved. There is no greater proof in love than to sacrifice one's life for the sake of another. Jesus proved His love for His disciples by giving His very life for them, through His death on the cross. And so, we too can prove our love for God and for one another when we embrace the way of the cross in our journey through this life.

We, therefore, should strive to be merciful toward one another because Christ showed mercy even to those who crucified Him: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

Even so, we realize that we can never outgive God in love, because He has loved us without measure. For in God's love, we find the fullness of grace, life, peace, and everlasting joy.

In practical application, Jesus is really telling us to get out of our isolation, go forth, and bear fruit by following our Lord's commandment of love. In other words, all those who profess to love Jesus will obey His commandments and teaching because they enable us to make the love of God real in our lives.

Perhaps, one of the most spiritually destructive ideas that has infected the world today is the fallacy of claiming to love our Lord Jesus Christ while at the same time ignoring, and even rejecting, the commandments and teachings of His Church. It is simply "double talk"!

The real test and testimony of our love for a person lies in our acceptance of what that person we love holds dear. Because authentic love means cherishing and honoring what the person we love cherishes and honors. That is what our Lord Jesus is telling us today: "You are my friends if you do what I command you." (Jn 15:14) And Jesus commands us to "love one another".

Finally, when we love one another as Christ loved us, we become like mirror, magnifying the love of God and radiating it outward to others as well.

As we celebrate the mystery of Christ's love in the Holy Eucharist, let us pray to remain in God's love so that we can bear fruit through our love for one another.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!