First reading Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48
The pagans have received the Holy Spirit just as much as we have
As Peter reached the house Cornelius went out to meet him, knelt at his feet and prostrated himself. But Peter helped him up. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘I am only a man after all!’
Then Peter addressed them: ‘The truth I have now come to realise’ he said ‘is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.’
While Peter was still speaking the Holy Spirit came down on all the listeners. Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were all astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit should be poured out on the pagans too, since they could hear them speaking strange languages and proclaiming the greatness of God. Peter himself then said, ‘Could anyone refuse the water of baptism to these people, now they have received the Holy Spirit just as much as we have?’ He then gave orders for them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterwards they begged him to stay on for some days.
Responsorial Psalm 97(98):1-4
The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
or
Alleluia!
Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
for the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
ring out your joy.
Second reading 1 John 4:7-10
Let us love one another, since love comes from God
My dear people,
let us love one another
since love comes from God
and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Anyone who fails to love can never have known God,
because God is love.
God’s love for us was revealed
when God sent into the world his only Son
so that we could have life through him;
this is the love I mean:
not our love for God,
but God’s love for us when he sent his Son
to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away.
Gospel John 15:9-17
You are my friends if you do what I command you
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
I have told you this
so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy be complete.
This is my commandment:
love one another, as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends,
if you do what I command you.
I shall not call you servants any more,
because a servant does not know
his master’s business;
I call you friends,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me:
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you
is to love one another.’
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‘I call you friends’
Jesus, after spending a few years with His disciples, teaching them the values of the Kingdom and sharing with them the love and compassionate face of The Father, told them, “I do not call you servants any longer; rather, I call you friends.” Why? What is the difference between a servant and a friend? A servant follows the master’s orders and fulfils duties out of obligation, but he does not have a close relationship with him. Today, Jesus has many servants in the church who do things for Him out of obligation. They go to fulfil the duties of saying prayers, attending Sunday mass and receiving the Sacraments, but they do not share the heart of Jesus, their Master.
On the contrary, a friend has a personal relationship with his friend and relates to him out of love and not out of obligation. Listen to Jesus today as He calls us, “Friends”, not “servants”. His friendship can never be broken because He will never leave us alone. Let us rejoice at this immense gift of His friendship. As His friends, Jesus wants to share God’s very same love and life with us.
Reflective question:
Am I Jesus’ friend or His servant?
Am I Jesus’ friend or His servant?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
