GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY : Thursday - May 19, 2022

  

Thursday - May 19, 2022

O Most Blessed Virgin, just as everyone who hates thee and is forgotten by thee must necessarily perish, so also must everyone who loves thee and is loved by thee necessarily be saved!

 

-St. Bonaventure

May 19, 2022

 

THURSDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER

Lectionary: 288

 

Reading I     

                                                                                    Acts 15:7-21

 

After much debate had taken place,

Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the presbyters,

“My brothers, you are well aware that from early days

God made his choice among you that through my mouth

the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe.

And God, who knows the heart,

bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit

just as he did us.

He made no distinction between us and them,

for by faith he purified their hearts.

Why, then, are you now putting God to the test

by placing on the shoulders of the disciples

a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?

On the contrary, we believe that we are saved

through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.”

The whole assembly fell silent,

and they listened

while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders

God had worked among the Gentiles through them.

 

After they had fallen silent, James responded,

“My brothers, listen to me.

Symeon has described how God first concerned himself

with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.

The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:

 

            After this I shall return

                        and rebuild the fallen hut of David;

            from its ruins I shall rebuild it

                        and raise it up again,

            so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord,

                        even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked.

            Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,

                        known from of old.

 

It is my judgment, therefore,

that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,

but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols,

unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.

For Moses, for generations now,

has had those who proclaim him in every town,

as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath.”

 

Responsorial Psalm                                  96:1-2a, 2b-3, 10

 

R.        (3)  Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

 

Sing to the LORD a new song;

            sing to the LORD, all you lands.

Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

R.        Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

 

Announce his salvation, day after day.

Tell his glory among the nations;

            among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

R.        Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

 

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.

He has made the world firm, not to be moved;

            he governs the peoples with equity.

R.        Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

 

Alleluia                                              Phil 2:8 Jn 10:27

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;

I know them, and they follow me.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                           Jn 15:9-11

 

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 might be in you and

your joy might be complete.”

 

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Unlimited and Unconditional Love

 

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.”  John 15:9

 

There are three beautiful insights we should take from this passage. 

 

First, the love of the Father for the Son is perfect in every way.  It is unconditional and all-consuming.  It’s total and selfless.  In receiving the Father’s love, Jesus receives all He needs. 

 

Second, the love Jesus receives from the Father cannot be contained.  It cannot be kept to Himself.  The love of the Father is such that it overflows from Jesus’ heart.  It is this overflowing love that pours forth from Jesus to us. 

 

Third, a key thing to ponder in this is that this overflowing love, now given to us, cannot be contained within us either.  It must overflow from our hearts to others.  Therefore, if we are to be true recipients of the love of the Father and the Son, we must in turn let that love pour forth onto others in an “unlimited” and “unconditional” way.

 

Think about it.  “Unlimited.”  “Unconditional.”  Is this truly possible?  Is it possible to be so radical and total in our love of others?  Yes, it’s possible only if the love we speak of originates in the heart of the Father, given to the Son, and then poured out upon us to distribute freely. 

 

Reflect, today, upon the fact that the love you are called to share with others originates in the Heart of the Father in Heaven.  The first and most important step in learning to love with the Father’s Heart is to let God love you.  This can be very hard to do.  It can be hard to let God love you, to receive that love, and to let it affect you deeply.  But if you can continually let God love you with His perfect love, you will start to see that this love automatically flows forth from you as if it were an overflowing river of grace and mercy.

 

Today's Prayer

 

Loving Father and Son, I do love You and know that I am loved by You.  Help me to be open to Your love. Help me to let that love sink in so that it may also overflow from my heart to others.  Jesus, I trust in You.

 

 

God Bless You.....

The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”