Reflection for the 6th Sunday of Easter-2020

Written on: May 13, 2020

First Reading: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18
Gospel: John 14:15-21

 Our readings today pick up where last week’s readings left off. Jesus is telling us and preparing us that He is going to leave us but He will not leave us alone. He also tells us that He chose us; we did not choose Him. I started to look at these words and wonder what these words meant in my life.

The theme of His whole life was love.

A line that especially caught my attention was:

“Whoever knows my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.  And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

I then prayed on the statements above and I was surprised to find out how much these words have played a role in my life.

To me it was as if Jesus left me all I needed to know to always stay one with Him. His commandment is LOVE, “love one another.” His whole life shows how to do this.

These are some of the thoughts that came to me about what it might mean to keep His commandment to LOVE.

• • • Reach out to the poor and be poor with them, offering them food or drink or whatever you may have that they may need and you can share.
    • Reach out to the marginalized and offer them support in their struggles and pain.
    • Reach out to the sick and offer them the comfort of your presence and love that heals.
    • Advocate for all in need, inviting those who have the power and resources to help make things better to do so, to choose love.
    • Pray for each other and especially those most in need.

And, when it seems I’m powerless and I feel hopeless, I remember that Jesus promised “the Spirit of truth” who “remains with you and will be in you.” Then I know again that I’m not alone. Jesus sent His Spirit to be with me, to teach me again and again how to love Him, and who promised that I will be loved by the Father.

This is His promise to each one of us. We are not alone and we are loved. We have been given the Spirit who makes it possible for us to follow Jesus and love others as He did-and as He has commanded us. We do what we can and God takes care of everything else through the awesome power of the Spirit.

As I close this writing I pray that we all pray and find out what these words have meant in each of our lives.  

“IF YOU LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.”

Sr. Mary O’Connell, GNSH, spent her early years as a Sister in the ministry of education. Later, her business acumen led her to positions in Financial Aid at D’Youville College, as treasurer for the Congregation and later as Director of Development. She also served as a prison chaplain which led to the release of a prisoner in honor of her 25th Jubilee- an event she considers a true blessing in her life. She also spent a year of Saturdays sleeping with the homeless women of Kensington and 18 years living among the poor in Trenton, both life changing experiences.

Feature image courtesy of Aaron Burden/Unsplash

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