Call to prayer: All loving God, help us to celebrate our joy in the resurrection of Jesus and to express in our lives the love we celebrate. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”
The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
Focus: Jesus assures his disciples that he will continue to love them. He uses an intimate phrase, “I love you.” Then he commands us to love others as he loves us.
Questions for Reflection and Sharing:
1. What words or phrases are important for us in this gospel reading?
2. What if the pastoral plan for our parish was “love one another as I love you.” What might our parish look like?
3. As you reflect on Jesus calling you his friend, what thoughts and feelings come to you? How might you respond this week?
Concluding prayer: Almighty and ever-living God, through the resurrection of your Son, you have redeemed us and made us his children. May our lives be holy and may we strive to love others as you have loved us. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
