First Reading: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Reflection:
Throughout the Easter season we have been hearing readings from the Acts of the Apostles about the spread of the gospel in the earliest days of the Church. In today’s reading there is a major development: the Gentiles begin to be welcomed into the Church. Gentiles were non-Jews. They consisted of all the “other nations” (the literal meaning of the word “Gentiles”) who were part of the nation of Israel. In the Old Testament, the Israelites alone were included in the covenants with God. Yet, this was not to be the case forever. Israel was to be set apart and distinct from the foreign, pagan nations in order to be a witness for God to them. In other words, they were not to close themselves off from other nations but were to be a light to other nations and be open to welcoming Gentiles into the people of God. Jesus Himself had talked about the Gentiles being welcomed into the New Covenant. In the early Church, that was becoming a reality. Cornelius was a Roman centurion (i.e. an officer in the army) who had faith in the one, true God. He had a vision of an angel who told him to call for the Apostle Peter. Messengers were sent to Peter to invite him to Cornelius’ house, which prompted the visit we read about in this Sunday’s first reading. During Peter’s visit, he preached to Cornelius and a houseful of Gentiles about Jesus Christ. During his speech, the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to all the Gentiles listening, evidencing their faith and God’s intent to include them in the Church. This prompted Peter and those with him to baptize them, welcoming them into the people of God. This account records the first known Gentile converts in the early Church, opening the door for many more, including us today. It also evidences the universal (i.e. catholic) nature of the Church. The gospel is for all peoples in all times.
Second Reading: 1 John 4:7-10
Reflection:
“God is love.” This simple statement is packed with meaning. It does not say merely that God has love or that God is loving. God is the very definition of love. Therefore, if we want to know what love is, we must look to Him and come to know Him. Our society today throws around the word “love” all the time. We use it for everything from “I love ice cream” to “I love chocolate” to “I love my dog” to “I love you (spouse, child, friend, etc.).” Too often we mistake love for merely a feeling. We “love” something because it makes us feel good. But love goes beyond a fleeting feeling. True love must always be relational. I can say, “I love ice cream,” because it makes me feel good, but I can never enter into a relationship with ice cream! The love that we’re called to in this Sunday’s second reading is a self-giving love. We see the supreme example of this true love in Jesus. God’s love led to self-giving action. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. He didn’t have to do that; but He chose to out of love! Therefore, if we want to know what love is, we should look to the cross. Through knowing Jesus, let us emulate that self-giving love to the world.
Gospel Reading: John 15:9-17
Reflection:
This Sunday’s gospel reading records some of Jesus’ last words to His closest followers before the crucifixion. His primary message is the same one we heard in the second reading: “love one another.” We have already seen that love is more than a feeling. It is self-giving and active. When Jesus calls us to love one another in the Church, He is giving us a high calling that is not easy. How can we do this? Well, we can’t do it on our own. It is only the love of God working in us that makes it possible for us to truly love. Jesus said, “Remain in my love.” This is the key. We must be full of Jesus’ love to have any love to give to others. How do we remain in His love? By keeping His commandments. We manifest God’s love best when we are in right relationship with God. Sin (i.e. breaking God’s commandments) separates us from God and can, by our own choice, prevent the love of God from effectively working in and through us. But when we obey God’s commandments and align our wills with His will, then we can truly love one another. When we let God’s love fill us and spill out into others, then it is amazing what God can do through us. The reality is that it is hard to love as God calls us to, but with God all things are possible. Jesus died out of perfect love for us and because of His death we can have life in Him that brings life to others. Let us, therefore, receive the love of God and then selflessly share that love with others.
Application:
- Thank God today for His love for you, especially His perfect expression of love on the cross.
- Regularly offer this simple prayer: “God, help me to know your love and share it with others.”
- Reflect on how well you love people in your life in a self-giving, active way. Who do you need to love better? Ask God to help you love them as He loves them.
