031 6th Sunday of Easter

Readings

Cycle B 6th Sunday of Easter

Second Reading: 1 John 4:7-10

First Reading: Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48

Gosepl: John 15: 9-17

Psalm: Psalm 98

Homily Theme

Love is a Decision

Everyone who has made a Marriage Encounter Weekend has learned and memorized the slogan. Love is a Decision not a Feeling. Learn and memorize that slogan since, our salvation depends on how well we have lived Christ’s command to love. Remember, God is love and those who love, know God. God also commands we make the decision to love everyone. I will repeat it again, so that we may remember it always………………. Love is a decision not a feeling.

In the first reading this week, we will hear the story of Cornelius and his Gentile family being filled with the Holy Spirit after hearing St Peter who made a decision to baptize them and receive them into the Church, even though they were Gentiles whom the Jews did not like. God decided to pour His love upon them when they received the Holy Spirit. God, in His is infinite love, also fills us with the Holy Spirit and brings us into the life of the Church at baptism. How are we living that life that we have all received in baptism?

This week, the word loveis used many times in the second reading and the Gospel. God does not merely suggest that we love others He commands it. We are told that if we do not love, we don’t know God who is love. How do we live this command of Jesus to love? It is very important to remember that the love that He speaks of is not a feeling, but a decision. Jesus does not command us to feel love, He commands us to make a decision to love. It is easier to show love those we like but the command is more difficult when it is somebody we do not like. We must even love our enemies and persecutors. Jesus gave us an example on the cross, when He cried out, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” He loved them and even though He didn’t like them at that moment, He died for them also, when He cried out to the Father. He made a decision to love them. So must we when we have to forgive someone. Once again I repeat St. John, who tells us in the second reading, “Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.”

This Sunday, we also celebrate Mother’s Day in the United States. It is a day we show our mothers that we love them. They were the first ones to teach us how to love a brother or sister whom we didn’t like because of something they did to us. Mothers taught us how to make a decision to forgive a particular sibling by saying I love you and forgive you. Mothers know that Love is more than a feeling better than anyone else. Mothers know how to love a particular offspring even when they don’t see or hear, from them. Make a decision today to show your love.

A Happy and a Blessed Day to all Mothers.