Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
All Are Welcome In The Church
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
In full collegiality, the apostles decided at the Council of Jerusalem that the Church is to be open to all without any distinction. All are saved in the same way: through Jesus Christ. God loves all people. That must have been a tremendous challenge for the Jews, to whom pagans were unclean and alien.
Is the Church indeed open to all today? Is there no distinction of colour, language, or social class? Is there no discrimination against the poor, against people with a “bad record?” People with long hair, who have different tastes in music, or people with shorter sleeves or skirts? What are the things that really matter and that are objects of faith? What makes us stay and live in the love of Christ?
Opening Prayer
Lord, our God,
you want your Church
to be open to all persons and all nations,
for your Son was available to all
and you love all people.
God, give us open minds
and open hearts.
Save us from our narrow prejudices
and stop us from trying to create people
in our own image and likeness.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
First Reading
As the discussions grew more intense, Peter stood up and said to them:
“Brothers, you know that from the beginning, God chose me among you, so that non-Jews could hear the Good News from me and believe.
God, who can read hearts, put himself on their side by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
He made no distinction between them and us and purified their hearts through faith.
So, why do you want to test God? Why do you place a burden on the disciples that neither our ancestors nor we could carry?
We truly believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.
The entire assembly remained silent as they listened to Paul and Barnabas share all the miraculous signs and wonders that God had performed through them among the non-Jews.
After they finished, James spoke up:
“Listen to me, brothers.
Symeon has just explained how God first showed his care by taking a people for himself from non-Jewish nations.
And the words of the prophets agree with this, for Scripture says,
After this, I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen booth;
I will restore its ruins and set it up again.
Then, the rest of humanity
will seek the Lord,
and all nations will be consecrated to my Name.
So says the Lord,
who is today doing what he decided
from the beginning.
Because of this, I believe we should not create obstacles for non-Jews seeking God.
Let us simply instruct them not to eat food that is unclean because it has been offered to idols; to avoid prohibited marriages; and not to eat the flesh of animals that have been strangled or any blood.
For, from the earliest times, Moses has been taught everywhere, and every Sabbath his laws are remembered.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love!
You will remain in my love if you keep my commandments, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you all this that my own joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.
Prayers of the Faithful
– That the leaders of the Church may be always open to the Holy Spirit, especially when they have to take important decisions, we pray:
– That God who knows the human heart, may keep the leaders and the faithful in the Church from discriminating against anyone, we pray:
– That the Spirit of the Lord may dispose us to see the good that there is in others, also in those who differ much from us, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
your Son Jesus, is here among us
not because we are a privileged class
but because you are good and loving.
Give us the Spirit of your Son,
that we may love all people
without any discrimination.
May faith and love unite us all
in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, Father of all,
we remain in your love
if we keep your commandments.
Give us the strength
to keep your command of love
without any discrimination.
And if we have any favorites,
let it be the poor and the little people,
those without rights or name,
that we give them access to justice and joy.
In this way, may the joy of your Son be in us,
now and until it is complete forever.
Blessing
A world, even a Church, without discrimination and judgment, where people accept, appreciate and love one another, how great that would be! May we be one in the Lord who loves all of us, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Can love be commanded or forced? I can’t force someone to love me! Love and commandments - these two words look like opposing each other. But, Jesus in today’s Gospel says, ‘if you want to be in my love, keep my commandments.” Does it sound like, ‘fulfil this requirement to be loved by Jesus?’ Certainly not. Jesus loves us without conditions; but the decision to accept or reject his love is totally our choice.
It is important to pay attention to the words of Jesus. Jesus does not keep conditions for his love. His love for us is totally unconditional – no additional requirements added for the love of Jesus. But, remaining in the love of Jesus is a personal choice. Disciples can choose not to abide in the love of Jesus by their refusal to love others. This was the command he had given – ‘love one another as I have loved you.’
Learning to love someone without expecting anything in return is difficult. In the same way, for a community to become a loving community is even more challenging. The powers of sin, embedded in human communities – through their personal insecurity, envy, unhealthy competitions and hostility can lurk, hidden but powerful. The task calls for honesty and courage; and may require suitable and effective structures for sharing, discernment and decision-making.
Only by remaining in his love, by trusting and surrendering to his love, can disciples hope to love one another without conditions. Their abiding in Jesus is always a work in progress.
Lord our God, Father of all,
we remain in your love
if we keep your commandments.
Give us the strength
to keep your command of love
without any discrimination.
And if we have any favourites,
let it be the poor and the little people,
those without rights or name,
that we give them access to justice and joy.
In this way, may the joy of your Son be in us,
now and until it is complete forever.
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2 May 2024
John 15:9-11
Abide in my love
Jesus invited his disciples to love because we can only experience the true essence of life by loving others. However, our experiences in relationships with others have taught us that ‘to love’ is not always easy, as we may get controlled by negative emotions such as jealousy, envy, hatred, and selfishness.
Love is something that cannot be commanded or forced. One cannot be forced to love another person. The words "love" and "command" seem to contradict each other. However, in today's Gospel, Jesus says, "If you want to be in my love, keep my commandments." Jesus loves us without any conditions. It is our choice to accept or reject his love.
Remaining in the love of Jesus is a choice that each person must make for themselves. When we harbour hatred toward others, we are essentially pushing away God and rejecting the love of Jesus. Accepting Jesus' invitation to love one another in the way that he loves us would also demand sacrifices as he did.
Love is a sweet burden. The Gospel tells us that the only way to learn to love one another unconditionally is by abiding in Jesus, which is a continuous effort.
The early church faced various challenges and disagreements, but as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, showing compassionate understanding and Christ-like love is the most effective way to resolve conflicts. Let us continue to pray for those regions of the world that are suffering from wars, hatred, and mistrust.
Our hearts must be open to love, compassion, and empathy instead of hatred and selfishness.
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22 May 2025
John 15: 9-11
Abide in My Love: A Pilgrimage of the Heart
Love is the very heart of life. Jesus invites us to abide in his love, because only by loving can we experience true joy and fullness of life. Yet, love is not always easy. Our relationships often reveal how easily jealousy, anger, and selfishness can creep into our hearts.
Love cannot be compelled or forced; it needs to be given willingly. This is why the Words of Jesus today pose a challenge before us: "If you want to remain in my love, keep my commandments." While Jesus loves us without conditions, He encourages us to respond freely. Holding onto resentment or hatred sets us apart from the nurturing love that he provides.
Abiding in Jesus' love is not a passive act. It requires daily effort — choosing forgiveness over bitterness, sacrifice over selfishness, and compassion over indifference. True love is a sweet burden, calling us to grow in patience, mercy, and trust.
The early Church, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles, faced many divisions and trials. Yet, it was through Christ-like understanding and persistent love that they found unity and strength. Today, we are called to the same path, especially in a world wounded by war, hatred, and mistrust.
To walk this pilgrimage of hope means choosing love daily, forgiving generously, and keeping our hearts open to others' needs. It is a journey that demands perseverance, but it leads to the deep joy that Christ promises.
As we abide in Jesus, His life flows through us like the sap of a vine, bearing fruits of peace, justice, and joy. In a world thirsting for hope, our choice to love becomes a powerful testimony. Abide in his love, we will become living signs of hope for the world.