Readings and Themes for the Week of May 02, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of May 02, 2010,
Fifth Sunday of Easter

Reading Acts 14:21-27

The missionaries Paul and Barnabas complete their journey.

Psalm 145

"I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God."

Reading II Revelation 21:1-5a

Like bride and groom, God pledges everlasting love.

Gospel: John 13:31-33a, 34-35

Jesus' followers live by a new commandment: love one another.

THEME:

Jesus commands us to love one another.

Today we open our hearts to receive Christ’s new commandment: that we love one another as He has loved us. Throughout this Easter season, we ponder that love, which gained for us the promise of eternal life. As we are drawn into the vision of Saint John in the book of Revelation, let us pray for a strengthening of our love for one another.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

How do you make obvious that you love your family and friends?

Question for Youth:

The world is full of examples of people who do not love others.

What are the results of hate that you see in the world?

How would the world be different if we followed Jesus’ commandment?

Question for Adults:

Jesus’ commandment to love another is a challenge.

What will you do this week to deepen the love you have for those around you in life?

Bulletin Bites
"I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you should also love one another."

Jesus reminds us of the command God gave to the Israelites through Moses to Love your neighbor as yourself. Next, Jesus tells us to Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Psychologists only recently discovered that we must love ourselves in order to be able to love others. That is how God created us. Sadly, many of us do not love ourselves enough to feel that we can be loved by others, or by God. And, sadly, there is a risk that the only one that we will ever love will be ourselves. Jesus takes love to a whole new dimension. Love one another as I have loved you – unconditionally: without a pre-condition of recognition, without expectation of being loved in return. God made us stewards of His love – for ourselves and for others. Are we ready to give an account of our stewardship – to answer the question, "What have you done with My love?"