SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B

Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48/Ps. 97:1-4/1Jn. 4:7-10/John 15:9-17

Beloved in Christ, last Sunday we reflected on the need to be true branches of the Lord in order to bear lasting fruits. Today, we reflect on the theme of God’s love for us and we could replicate this love for one another.

Dear friends, our world is bleeding; nations, families, relationships and marriages are falling apart because of the lack of God’s love leading to corruption, selfishness, moral decadence etc. With God’s love and Spirit, we can make this world a beautiful place, for we become better persons in His love. This love is the core of the Christian message.

To accept that God loves me is also to accept the reality that God loves all others in the same way. The first reading says that, Peter and his companions “were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit should be poured out on the pagans too” Peter and his companions were coming to realize that the horizon of the risen Lord was much broader than they expected.

Jesus came to draw all people to himself in a loving friendship, without distinction or discrimination. ‘When I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself’, he said. The Lord is drawing us all into his loving friendship. What he asks is that we allow ourselves to be drawn, or in the language of the gospel reading, that we remain in his love, that we remain in this gravitational pull towards the Lord who is love.

In the gospel reading, Jesus declares that remaining in his love requires that we share with others something of the love that the Lord is always pouring out on us. ‘Love one another, as I have loved you’. This doesn’t always come easy to us, especially when the ‘other’ we are asked to love is very different from us. Peter struggled to love Cornelius and his household, but he did so with the Spirit’s help. The Holy Spirit is offered to us all every day to help us to love others in the non-discriminatory way the Lord loves.

The power of love knows no boundaries, and it holds no record of misgivings but believes in second chances. Love sees broken souls and broken systems and heals them. Love hears plaintive cries and answers.

Love discerns a need and fulfils it. Love does not see colour, race, or features; love sees people- and such is the path to a better world/society. Love does not mean that we have to always agree with one another but to desire the best and care deeply for others, despite our differences.

we are called to love by deeds and not mere words, and our world and lives would be better than before. Always remember: “Loving actions are the building blocks of eternal life”