May 7
Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intentions
7:45 AM – First Friday Mass League
Enrollment
In memory of Harold Muller / Wife
In memory of William Sovik / The Staff of Holy Cross Church
In memory of Amelia Wright / Risiel Cruz-Bower
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
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
Psalms 57:8-9, 10 and 12
R. (10a) I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.
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.
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.
Gospel Acclamation
John 15:15b
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
John 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.”
“I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.”
Reflection
Today we continue our discussion of one of Jesus’ commandments. Jesus tells his disciples to “love one another as I love you.” This requires that we be able to see Christ in the other person. How difficult that is at times, especially when the people that should be the closest to us and whom we should love the best do not exhibit Christ like behavior.
Jesus goes on to say he does not call us slaves but friends, if we follow what he commands of us. Jesus has told us everything that the Father has told him. This knowledge, passed on by Christ, allows us to act out of love if we choose to do so. That being the case, why do we so often choose to ignore this commandment and fail to love those around us?
I would suppose, if we are honest with ourselves, the answer is that we want to love only those who love us and please us. If we find ourselves in that situation, we must recall that Christ loved all people, including those who did not believe and those who turned their back on him. If we are to love as Christ loved, we must work each day to configure our life to that of Christ. Are we willing to live as Christ has taught or do we choose to live another way?
Peace,
Fr. John Kurgan
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