21 May
Sun
6th Sunday of Easter (A)
Acts 8:5-8,14-17
Ps. 66(65):1-3,4-5,6-7,16,20
1 Pt. 3:15-18
Jn. 14:15-21
(Ps Wk II)
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In the second reading today, Peter encourages us to a "passionate love for goodness": to be zealots ("ardent lovers") of goodness, enthusiastic, on fire with God's love (The opposite, tepidity, you see in Rev. 3:15-16). "No heart is pure that is not passionate." And Peter warns us that the pursuit of goodness will mean suffering: "If they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well" (Jn. 15:20). By accepting suffering lovingly and in faith, we are demonstrating our loyalty to Christ, and sharing His salvific sufferings.

We are preparing for the feast of Pentecost and, in today's Gospel, we listen to Jesus as He promises us the Paraclete. The Greek parakletos is a word rich in meaning. It is the Spirit who "takes away our inadequacies and enables us to cope with life". It is the Spirit who enables us to see persons and events, as it were, with the eyes and heart of God, and to judge things according to divine values. With the Spirit in our hearts, Jesus assures us, we will never feel "orphaned" or "forlorn".



God has sent His Spirit into hearts, so that we can cry out, Abba, Father.


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 Christians in Africa, in imitation of the Merciful Jesus, may give prophetic witness to reconciliation, justice, and peace.
Elaboration

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