Dear parishioners and visitors;
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (Jn. 15:12).
“Beloved, let us love another” (1 Jn. 4:7)
St. John and Jesus in the readings for this 6th Sunday of Easter give us a memorable and an important teaching about love. This teaching of love captures the heart of the Good News: God is love and has loved us in Jesus Christ and we are recommended to love others as He had loved us. (CCC. 218-221)
Love, in the biblical sense, is not just a good emotional feeling or a sentimental affection to others. It is a decision, a choice, a commitment and an act of the will to be good to others and to do good to and for others.
Every day we choose, decide and commit ourselves to love others in small ways, like acting and dealing with others kindly, politely and lovingly, and in large ways, like giving of ourselves to care for others. Loving others is our Christian obligation. Our love for God and for one another is not just a word, but an action and always demands sacrifice.
I have shared with you for the last two weeks about Lectio Divina (the Sacred Reading), the traditional way of praying with the Sacred Scripture. This way of praying; with its 5 steps: Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio, Contemplatio, Actio; helps us to encounter God in his Sacred Word and response to his grace.
Step 2. Meditation (Meditatio): Silently meditate and reflect on the text by asking yourself questions such as “what does this text say to me today and to my life, who I am in this text, what do I learn from this text”. It is good to take notes the answers and the insights you gain through reflection.
Happy Mother Day to all Mothers and Blessed week to all. Fr. Peter Hoan Nguyen.