DAILY- HOMILY

May 18, 2017 – THURSDAY, 5th Week of Easter 

St. John I, Pope and Martyr 

White

Acts 15: 7- 21 / Jn 15: 9 - 11

   St. John I (d. 536), elected Pope in 523, was the first Pontiff to visit Constantinople; he worked to restore unity in the Church after the Acacian Schism (482- 519)

FROM THE 1ST READING:     Acts 15: 13, 19- 21

     After they had 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....

     "Because of this, I think that we should not make difficulties for those non­ Jews who are turning to God. Let us just tell them not to eat food that is unclean from having been offered to idols; to keep themselves from 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 in every place, and every sabbath his laws are recalled."

GOSPEL READINg:     Jn 15:9- 11

     Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved 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."

REFLECTION

   Since time immemorial and painfully even to this day, racism has constantly been present. Humanity seems to find it so difficult to rid itself of this nasty tendency to exclude or discriminate against people who are different.

     In the first reading we see the early Christians deciding on what to require of non-Jews in their preaching of the Good News. Guided by the Holy Spirit they finally decided that the Good News of Jesus is indeed for all.

     In the Gospel reading Jesus reaffirms his spreading of God's love to all, "that my own joy may be in you and your joy may be complete."

     We show our love for Jesus by keeping his commandments; in return he will love us just as the Father has loved him.

     Let us pray that we be his good servants keeping his commandments and spreading and sharing his message of love to all the world.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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