13 May
Sun 		5th Sunday of Easter (C)
Acts 14:21b- 27
Ps. 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13ab
Rev. 21:1-5a
Jn. 13:31-33a, 34-35
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Jesus' call to love may seem to be very beautiful until we come to put it into practice in our daily lives. Relationships can often be complicated and the combinations of temperaments and characters can sometimes make loving very difficult indeed.

Perhaps what is important for us to recognise is that we are not expected to like everyone, but rather we are called to love them.

Choosing to love means that our love is not dependant on our moods or feelings at a particular point in time, but instead we are called to love even when it seems difficult and when we had rather not. To love as Jesus does means to love constantly and also to the very maximum. There is no room for half measures.


Lord recreate me in the power of Your resurrection that I may love as You do.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That refugee women, supported and respected, may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H    

INTENTION : That refugee women, supported and respected, may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to

The responsibility for many political decisions leading to war rests predominantly with men. Consequently, while men get wounded or die, women and children become refugees exposed to assault, rape or loss of children. The ones who suffer most in these conflicts are the weakest who get uprooted and are forced to flee. This is not the way humanity is supposed to live.

Like all refugees women and girls face problems of various kinds and need the following: protection against forced return to their countries of origin; security against armed attacks and other forms of violence; protection from unjustified and unduly prolonged detention; a legal status that accords them adequate social, economic and legal rights; and access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing and medical care. They also need protection against human rights abuses and the myriad problems they have to encounter to safeguard their dignity and personhood.

We are asked to be in solidarity with them and pray that refugee women may find the strength to overcome the violence and suffering they are subjected to.



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