The Glory of Easter: perfect joy
MAY 5, 2024 | Acts 10, 25-16. 34 ; 1 John 4, 7-10; John 15:9-17.
The message of the Gospel is a message of joy. Jesus said himself in today’s gospel that:
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)
Christ speaks to us in order to fill us with joy. The reason for this joy is that the life of Jesus has always been a life filled with love after the image of his Father.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:10)
This is true friendship with God, which is manifested in the love we have for everyone in the world.
Such a love is described in the
Book of the Acts of the Apostles, in today’s first reading through the invitation of St. Peter - to love without discrimination, for God’s love has no partiality. Peter enters the house of Cornelius to teach him together with a group of pagans about the salvation of God. They received like everyone else the gift of the Holy Spirit and were baptized. The Apostle Peter reminds us today, as he did to the first Christian community, that the message of salvation is for all people without discrimination of nationality, race, tribe and color of their skin. Salvation is universal and Christianity is all about love, loving others; it is all about service, serving others. It is all about life, that is living for others. In that way our joy is complete.
This is what St. John insists on in the second reading of this Sunday.
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)
God’s love is manifested in giving us
his Son, Jesus who sacrificed himself for us for the forgiveness of our sins. God has shown us how to love. It is up to us today to show the world what God’s love looks like. This Sunday, we are challenged on the manner we love one another. Do we pick and choose those we want to love or help or serve? St. John is challenging each and everyone who call themselves Christians to love as Christ loved. He gave his life for all without discrimination. God himself makes his sun shine on bad and good people alike and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil (Cf. Mt 5:45).
Let us open our hearts to love every human being created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). This is to say, may we ask the Holy Spirit to help us welcome a person in our heart without discrimination of origin. May our love empower us to work for a better, harmonious, loving, peaceful and joyful society. Let us take seriously the command of Jesus to get out of ourselves and to spread love everywhere we find ourselves. That is perfect joy. We can conclude with this beautiful quote of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta:
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
Have a Blessed Sunday!
Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC