Sixth Sunday of Easter

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
1 Jn 4:7-10
Jn 15:9-17

GROW: I have 20/15 vision. I can see things in the distance as well as close up. But that doesn’t mean I can see everything perfectly. Because of a difference in how each eye focuses, I can’t find those hidden images in “magic eye” posters, and forget trying to watch a 3D movie! Seeing all things perfectly is not something many of us could claim, including Peter. And yet, with God’s help, he understands a vision God gave to him: “In truth,” Peter says, “I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation, whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” Through God’s mercy and Jesus’ redemptive cross, the kingdom of God has been prepared for all peoples. God’s saving power has been revealed. With faith, and the help of the Holy Spirit in living out the commandments, we can fix our eyes on Christ – the revelation of God’s love who came into the world that we might have life through him.

GO: So much information comes to us every day, in all forms of media, there are now even shortcuts to the shortcuts for grasping the content. My personal favorite is the abbreviation, “TL; DR” which means, “too long, didn’t read.” Some might claim that we are dumbing down our culture with this type of shorthand notation, or we could argue that clear, concise, and straightforward is simply best. And that is what Jesus gives us today in his one commandment: “Love one another as I love you.” He offers commentary for the commandment and gives reasons for why he is telling it to us, but the crux of it cannot be missed: love one another. It is a commandment both simple, yet complex; easy, yet at times exponentially difficult to live. So Jesus provides the key to fulfilling it by saying, “remain in my love” [emphasis mine]. Faithfulness to a sacramental life and participation in communal living give us the grace to remain in that love – which in turn transforms and enables us to share that love with others.

PRAY: To honor the celebration of Mother’s Day, pray the Rosary today for the intentions of our mothers, for those who have been motherly influences to us, and for those who long to be mothers.