Daily Readings
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
PSALM: PS 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
Response (R): The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. <R.>
The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. <R.>
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. <R.>
SECOND READING:
1 John 4:7-10
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
GOSPEL: John 15:9-17
At that time, Jesus said to this disciples:
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Daily Reflection – 05 May 2024
Sixth Sunday of Easter
The Church is both institution and also a movement. While an institution can exist without progress, a movement is essentially concerned with growth and direction. The Early church always looked to two litmus tests for moving in the right direction – the Holy Spirit and Love.
This becomes clear in the first reading where the Holy Spirit descends on the Gentiles at Cornelius’s house whilst Peter is still preaching the word. Peter’s reaction is to yield to the Holy Spirit in love, “Can anyone withhold Baptism from these who have received the Holy Spirit?”
John stresses the need to Love beyond all else as he believes that no one can be a true disciple unless he is guided by love. Emphasising that “God is Love” and “Whoever does not love does not know God”, he will record Jesus as reiterating this: “Remain in my love”.
An institutionalised faith is convenient but when it is also a movement, it demands that we relate our faith-life experience and evaluate our response against the backdrop of two criteria – whether it is guided by the Holy Spirit and whether it produces love.
Source: Archdiocese of Mumbai official website (https://www.archdioceseofbombay.org/)