Love One Another

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050815.cfm) reminds me that God wants me to love others.

When we hear the word love, we think of something happy and romantic. However, love is not a feeling. Love is a decision. And in the gospel, we see the ultimate expression of love – when one lays down his life for his friends. Jesus did that for us.

Christ loved us when we were still sinners.

He died for us when we were still sinners. In fact, the reason he died was to save us from our sins. He decided to follow God. He decided to love us, even if we were unlovable sinners.

God wants us to love others that way as well.

It is easy to love those who love you. it is easy to love your family and friends. It is easy to show goodness to those good to you. however, God wants more from us. He wants us to decide to love others, especially those who are unlovable. He wants us to be good to those annoying people in our lives. He wants us to treat right those who we feel do not deserve it. He wants us to love like Jesus did.

May we follow Jesus’ call to love others, the way he loves us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another Friday. Thank you for loving me, especially when I am very unlovable. Thank you for loving me despite my sins and my hard heart. Thank you for seeing the goodness in me. help me love like you do. May I see the goodness in others. May I love others, especially those who I feel are unlovable. Give me a heart like yours who would decide to love, regardless of what the other person is like. Love me Lord, and fill me with your love and goodness that  I may be able to pass it on to others. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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May 8, 2015

Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Lectionary: 289

Reading 1 Acts 15:22-31

The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church,

decided to choose representatives

and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,

and Silas, leaders among the brothers.

This is the letter delivered by them:

“The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers,

to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia

of Gentile origin: greetings.

Since we have heard that some of our number

who went out without any mandate from us

have upset you with their teachings

and disturbed your peace of mind,

we have with one accord decided to choose representatives

and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So we are sending Judas and Silas

who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:

‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us

not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,

namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,

from blood, from meats of strangled animals,

and from unlawful marriage.

If you keep free of these,

you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’“

And so they were sent on their journey.

Upon their arrival in Antioch

they called the assembly together and delivered the letter.

When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.

Responsorial Psalm PS 57:8-9, 10 and 12

R. (10a) I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;

I will sing and chant praise.

Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp!

I will wake the dawn.

R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD,

I will chant your praise among the nations.

For your mercy towers to the heavens,

and your faithfulness to the skies.

Be exalted above the heavens, O God;

above all the earth be your glory!

R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Jn 15:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I call you my friends, says the Lord,

for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 15:12-17

Jesus said to his disciples:

“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.

No one has greater love than this,

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

I no longer call you slaves,

because a slave does not know what his master is doing.

I have called you friends,

because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you

and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,

so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.

This I command you: love one another.”