SOCL, Easter6B

Sunday May 05, 2024

What I command you is to love one another.

See

There are odd expressions in the Fourth Gospel and in 1 John. It is strange to be commanded to love. Even stranger: “Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments.” What can “command” and “obedience” have to do with the love, the most free thing of all? It may help to recall that both human nature and divine nature are defined by love. We are being commanded to become what we most want to be in our deepest selves. Obedience here is the invitation to become our truest selves, true to our identity before God and our true to our mission simply as human beings.

Listen

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17

Reflect

(John 15:9-17)

-A commandment of love is something of a contradiction in terms. Love is a free choice. That is what gives the thrill to the experience of being loved. Recall times when you received gestures of love from another—a spontaneous embrace from a husband or wife; a wave from a friend; words of comfort and affirmation—not because the other person felt obliged to reach out to you but because they wanted to let you know that you were loved. What effect did that have on you? Did it bring you joy? Perhaps you have had a glimpse of the truth of what Jesus said, that it is in loving that our joy is complete.

-Often love and friendship make demands on us. Parents give freely of their time and energy to the care of their children but sometimes it requires a lot of effort. Also in responding to the needs of friends or spouses we can be challenged to ‘lay down’ our own ‘lives’ at least for a time. Can you recall when a time when putting yourself out for others bore fruit for them and for you?

-“I chose you”. Have you had the experience of being ‘chosen’ by someone? What was it like for you to be chosen? What is it like for you to consider yourself as one chosen by Jesus?

-Jesus called the disciples ‘’friends' not ‘servants’ because he had told them everything about himself. When have you allowed yourself to be known and loved? When has friendship blossomed for you because you made the time available and took the effort to understand another?

-The presence of God is revealed to us in the love we experience from others. Sometimes it can be clearly seen in the love between husband and wife, or parent and child when it doesn’t have to be proved but is the nature of the relationship in which they live. Love can also be apparent in difficult situations like when someone is ill or dying or in any kind of trouble. Abiding in the love of another is one of the greatest joys of life. When have you had that experience?

Pray

God of all nations, in the gift of your Son you have embraced the world with a love that takes away our sin and bestows perfect joy. Grant to all who have been reborn in baptism fidelity in serving you and generosity in loving one another. Grant this through Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit God for ever and ever. Amen.

Act

-Align Desires and Actions: See obedience as aligning actions with deepest desires.

-Intentional Living: Live with intention, expressing love daily.

-Continuous Growth: View obedience as a journey of continual growth.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024an, May 5). Sixth Sunday of Easter. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050524.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/

The Word today, Easter5B

April 29 - May 04, 2024

Monday 29 April

St Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor

1 John 1:5-2:2 The first letter of John manages to be both inspirational and realistic. We need to keep an eye on both, stay on the path of conversion of heart.

Matthew 11:25-30 This passage contains a great truth: the Gospel is for all and not for some élite group. We can all come to Jesus when we are burdened.

Tuesday 30 April

St Pius V, bishop of Rome

Acts 14:19-28 In our attempts at evangelisation today, we can still learn from the example of the first preachers: they took risked, were full of zeal and they knew God was with them all along.

John 14:27-31 Peace—the great gift of the risen Lord —means much more in the Bible than usual and especially here in John. It includes life in abundance, on account of the resurrection and even freedom from death and the fear of death.

Wednesday 01 May

St Joseph the Worker

Acts 15:1-6 Early Christians had to make up their minds whether or not to impose the full Jewish Law on new believers. It was not easy, as we see from today’s reading which features supporters on each side.

John 15:1-8 In the Fourth Gospel, there are seven I Am sentences, all echoing the name of God as I am who I am. In the same way, the image of the vine for the people of God is rooted in the Old Testament, as well as in the parable of Jesus. We the branches lives because of him.

Thursday 02 May

St Athanasius, bishop

Act 15:7-21 Our reading takes us to a very important moment in the early church. The issue was how much of the divinely ordained ritual practices of Judaism should be retained. None, really, but a compromise was reached about the consumption of blood, for the sake of communion between Jews and Gentiles.

John 15:9-11 The simply word “remain” is important in the Fourth Gospel: it means to live in, to be part of of, to draw life from. It is not only love but joy which will be completed in us.

Friday 03 May

St Philip and James, apostles

1 Cor 15:1-8 The apostolic proclamation takes us back to the original experiences of those who encountered the risen Lord. It is not enough, of course, to depend on the past: we have to recognise our own moments of encounter.

John 14:6-14 In our Gospel today, Philips seems to blurt out something inappropriate. However, it leads to deep teaching.

Saturday 04 May

St Conleth, bishop

Acts 16:1-10 Today’s reading is odd and inspiring. It is odd that Paul had someone circumcised, because he was so against it. It is inspiring that the same Paul dreams about the Macedonian Greeks who want him to preach among them. It would remind us of St Patrick and his dream about the Irish calling him.

John 15:18-21 It cannot be that our destiny should be different to that of Jesus. He too did not belong “this world” and he too was hated. It is to be expected that being a believer will incite others against us—a mark that we are on the path of true discipleship.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024al, April 28). Fifth Sunday of Easter. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042824.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/

SOCL, Easter5B

Sunday April 28, 2024

See

In the Bible, things from everyday life are used to speak of God. Two good examples would be those staples of the Mediterranean, the olive and the vine. In particular, the vine lends itself to metaphorical reference. It takes great tending; at the same time, it is obvious that even the furthest tendril “must with the vine be one.” By staying connected and with careful pruning, the fruit itself is “pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Genesis 2:9). No need to mention the wine!

Listen

Acts 9:26-31; Psalm 22 (21); 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8

Reflect

(John 15:1-8)

-In a relationship connectedness is important. Relationships cannot be taken for granted and need time and care to be life-giving. What does your experience tell you of the truth of this in your relationships with God, with your friends, with your family, with communities or groups to which you belong?

-“Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit”. In what ways do you see that you have been ‘pruned’ by the experiences of life, or by the word of God, to be a more fruitful person? Perhaps you have also experienced the need for “pruning” in significant relationships in your life.

-The parable also reminds us that we are not the source of our own life. It is a gift from God, from our parents, and from all who have nourished us. Give thanks for those who have been a source of life for you.

-God is glorified by our being fruitful. When has human fruitfulness reminded you of God at work in our world?

Pray

O God, you graft us on to Christ, the true vine, and, with tireless care, you nurture our growth in knowledge and reverence. Tend the vineyard of your Church, that in Christ each branch may bring forth to the glory of your name abundant fruits of faith and love. Grant this through Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit God for ever and ever. Amen.

Act

-Stay Connected: Keep nurturing important relationships and goals, like the vine and its tendrils, staying connected for thriving growth.

-Regular Pruning: Trim away what doesn't serve you—habits, possessions, or negative thoughts—to make room for positive growth.

-Nourish and Flourish: Prioritize activities that nourish body, mind, and spirit, just as the vine's fruit is both delightful and beneficial.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024al, April 28). Fifth Sunday of Easter. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042824.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/