DATE : 7/5/2021
EVENT : Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
COLOUR: White
READINGS : Acts 15: 22-31;
Resp. Psalm 56:8-12; John 15:12-17.
THEME: LET YOUR LOVE BE EXCEPTIONAL
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this seventh day of May, which is the fifth day of the fifth week of Easter, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Let Your Love Be Exceptional ". Beloved, do you know that our hearts are made for love; and that whatever that is contrary to love, poisons the heart. See ehh!!! God is love, as Scriptures tells us (1John 4:8). So, out of the abundance of his love, God created us. It was for love that he continues to sustain our life. It was for love that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. It was still for love that he forgives our sins whenever we ask for his pardon. And as a follow up, we are told that before departing from this world, Jesus gave his followers a new commandment - love. A new way of love that goes beyond giving only what is required or what we think others might deserve. What is the essence of Jesus' new commandment of love? It is a love to the death, a purifying love that can overcome selfishness, fear, and pride. It is a total giving of oneself for the sake of others. It is a selfless and self-giving love that is oriented towards putting the welfare of others ahead of myself. Let see what the Gospel tells us about this Christly love. 👇🏽
In the Gospel reading of today, John 15:12-17, we are told that Jesus called his disciples and said to them, "a man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends..." (vv. 13). By this statement, Jesus meant that there is no greater proof in love than the sacrifice of one's life for the sake of another. Thus, as a good teacher and leader, Jesus proved the genuity of his selfless love by giving his life for us on the cross. More so, through the shedding of his blood, our sins are not only washed clean, but new life is poured out on us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, as faithful stewards, we can prove our love for God and for one another by the way we embrace the various crosses that come our way in life. Hence, the question we need to ask is this: what is the cross/crosses in my life? Unfortunately, we live in a hedonistic world, bedeviled by selfishness, individualism, greed and contempt. The concept of Love has been bastardised and robbed of its divine meaning and origin. Nowadays, love has lost its power in the heart of people. People are no longer ready to make the least sacrifice for the good of their neighbours. Everyone seems to be busy, minding their business and the well-being of a friend or brother is sacrificed on the altar of booty and self gain.
Child of God, it is the will of God that we should learn to love one another just as he has loved us, wholeheartedly, without reserve, and full of mercy, kindness, and forgiveness. His love fills our hearts and transforms our minds and frees us to give ourselves in loving service to others. If we open our hearts to his love and obey his command to love our neighbour, then we will know his love more fully and we will bear much fruit, especially the fruit of peace, joy, patience, kindness, selflessness and goodness. These are the kind of fruit that lasts for eternity and that would guarantee us a place in paradise. So, do you wish to be fruitful and to abound in the love of God? Do you wish to be exceptional in the love that you show? Then, trust and obey God sincerely and he will fill you with his overflowing love. For he is the fount of genuine love.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, help me to love my neighbour sincerely and not to count the cost.
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ....Amen
HAPPY WEEKEND BELOVED FRIENDS
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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