Mass Readings

First reading	Acts 14:21 - 27 ©
Having preached the Good News in that town and made a considerable number of disciples, Paul and Barnabas went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe. They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans.

First reading

Acts 14:21 - 27 ©

Having preached the Good News in that town and made a considerable number of disciples, Paul and Barnabas went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.
They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 144

Second reading	©
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, ‘You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.’ Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new’ he said. ‘Write this: that what I am saying is sure and will come true.’

Second reading

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, ‘You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.’
Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new’ he said. ‘Write this: that what I am saying is sure and will come true.’

Gospel	John 13:31 - 35 ©
When Judas had gone Jesus said: ‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified. If God has been glorified in him, God will in turn glorify him in himself, and will glorify him very soon. ‘My little children, I shall not be with you much longer. You will look for me, And, as I told the Jews, where I am going, you cannot come. I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.’

Gospel

John 13:31 - 35 ©

When Judas had gone Jesus said:
‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified,
and in him God has been glorified.
If God has been glorified in him,
God will in turn glorify him in himself,
and will glorify him very soon.

‘My little children,
I shall not be with you much longer.
You will look for me,
And, as I told the Jews,
where I am going, you cannot come.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another;
just as I have loved you,
you also must love one another.
By this love you have for one another,
everyone will know that you are my disciples.’

The Work of God

Year C

- 5th Sunday of Easter

Love one another, as I have loved you

John 13:31-35

31 When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.
32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.
33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.'
34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

5th Sunday of Easter - Love one another, as I have loved you

The moment Judas left our company with the purpose of betraying me, had been already predestined by the Divine Will. He was adamant in his resolution and nothing would make him change his mind. God the Father glorified me by confirming my mission to save the world and at the same time I glorified Him by accepting to carry out his Divine plan.

The bond of love between the apostles and me was very strong; I was already feeling sorry for them, because they would have to suffer on account of my passion and death. The moment had come to leave them my commandment of love.

Love one another as I have loved you. When I ask you to love, I ask you to go beyond the normal love of friendship, beyond the love of family members and beyond the love of a man and a woman. I ask you to love to the point of suffering.

As I have explained, there is no greater love than to lay one’s life for another, and this is what I have done for you. I have paid the infinite offence of the sins of mankind with the infinite love of my Sacred Heart through the total suffering of my humanity.

I ask you to be prepared to suffer for others in order to express your love. Do anything in your power to help those in need, deny yourself in order to emulate my mercy. True love involves commitment, surrender and suffering. It ultimately involves dying to the self in order to live for me: Love.

When you love others unconditionally, you are loving me.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

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