May 15 2022

First reading Acts 14:21-27

They gave an account to the church of all that God had done with them

Paul and Barnabas went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans.

Responsorial Psalm 144(145):8-13a

Second reading Apocalypse 21:1-5

A vision of the heavenly Jerusalem, the bride of the Lamb

I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, ‘You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.’

Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new.’

Gospel John 13:31-33,34-35

In the Son of Man, God has been glorified

When Judas had gone Jesus said:

‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified,

and in him God has been glorified.

If God has been glorified in him,

God will in turn glorify him in himself,

and will glorify him very soon.

‘My little children,

I shall not be with you much longer.

I give you a new commandment:

love one another;

just as I have loved you,

you also must love one another.

By this love you have for one another,

everyone will know that you are my disciples.’

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Love is action

Love is at the heart of our Christian faith. In today’s gospel, Jesus gives
us a commandment to love. He does not give us an option to choose to
love or not to love. He simply tells us to love. Christian love is concrete,
visible, practical giving of self. It is not something we can just say, but it
is something that we need to do. Sometimes, it is just about listening
with a compassionate ear, making time to be with someone, or finding
ways to make them feel special. “We cannot all do great things. But we
can do small things with great love” (St. Teresa of Calcutta). It is these
simple small acts of love that Jesus wants from us.

Jesus’ love for us is visible, practical and concrete. He gives Himself to
us in so many ways, especially in the Word and the Eucharist. Today,
we are called to allow ourselves to be loved by Him. Filled with His
unconditional love, we go and love as He loved.

Question for reflection:
How can I reflect the love of Jesus today?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.